LANSING, October 6, 1999 — The Michigan Lottery’s newest millionaire is still rubbing his eyes in disbelief after discovering he was the sole winner of a $3.5 million Lotto jackpot!

The lucky Wyandotte man, who requested anonymity, was the only Michigan Lottery player to match all six numbers in the October 2 drawing: 11, 18, 20, 25, 30 and 45.

"I faithfully watch the Lotto drawings every week with my girlfriend," the winner said. "I actually missed the drawing the night I won because the first hockey game of the season was on at the same time. My girlfriend watched the drawing on a different television and ran in to tell me that I had matched five numbers. We both compared the ticket to the numbers she had written down and realized we had actually matched all six. I was so surprised — I never thought I would actually win the jackpot! I have been very nervous ever since."

The regular lottery player said he has been playing Michigan Lottery games for the past 27 years. He said he enjoys the wide variety of games offered by the Lottery, especially Michigan Lotto!

The winning Michigan Lotto "easy pick" ticket was sold at Cahalan Drug & Party Store, 1266 Eureka Road, in Wyandotte. Prior to turning the winning ticket in to the Lottery, the winner placed it in a lock box for safe-keeping.

The lucky man selected the lump-sum cash option payment for his winnings. He came to Lottery headquarters in Lansing on Tuesday to collect his one-time prize payment of $3,585,385 — the present cash value of that day’s announced $6.9 million jackpot — before taxes.

The avid sportsman, who enjoys golfing and bowling, said he plans to use his winnings to make home improvements, purchase a new truck, make some investments and "do something fun with it!"

For other Lottery hopefuls, the winner offered the following words of wisdom: "I have been playing the Lotto since it started. You just have to keep playing until you win!"

The winner became the seventh Wyandotte resident in Michigan Lottery history to win a Lotto jackpot prize. Combined, these lucky Wyandotte winners have collected over $45 million in Michigan Lotto jackpot prizes!

Michigan Lotto drawings are conducted every Wednesday and Saturday. The guaranteed jackpot for tonight’s (October 6) drawing is $2 million.

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