LANSING, December 7, 1999 — A lucky Kalamazoo man’s persistence really paid off! After consistently playing the same Keno numbers for several years, the 37-year-old man enjoyed a big payday — the game’s top prize of $250,000!
The winner, who requested anonymity, said he was shocked to learn that he had matched 10 of the Keno numbers drawn on Tuesday, November 29 — 3, 7, 13, 25, 30, 36, 42, 52, 63 and 72!
"I picked up a winning number report from the party store on my way home from work," the winner said. "I was completely shocked when I looked at my ticket and saw that I had 10 of the numbers!
I had to pinch myself a few times to make sure it was really happening. I still can hardly believe it — I haven’t been able to sleep since!"
The Kalamazoo man, who enjoys fishing and playing basketball in his free time, picked his own numbers which were based upon his birthday and those of family members. He said the only Michigan Lottery game he plays is Keno, and he has been playing it faithfully for the past four years. The winning ticket was purchased at 9th Street Truck Plaza, 5383 S. 9th Street, in Kalamazoo.
Prior to turning the winning ticket in at Lottery headquarters in Lansing, the winner kept it in his wallet to ensure its safety. He said he plans to use part of his winnings to pay bills, but has not yet decided what he will do with the rest of it.
The Keno game is designed to appeal to players wanting better odds of winning a prize. To play Keno, a player selects 10 numbers between one and 80. The Lottery draws 22 numbers from the field of one to 80. Players win if they match six, seven, eight, nine or all 10 of the numbers on their ticket to the 22 drawn by the Lottery, or even if they match no numbers at all. A player matching 10 numbers wins $250,000; nine numbers wins $2,500; eight wins $250; seven wins $25; six wins $7 and matching zero numbers wins a free $1 instant game ticket.
Keno drawings are held every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
