LANSING, March 13, 2000 — The prizes just keep rolling in for Michigan Rolldown players all across the state! There were two lucky jackpot winners in the March 8 Michigan Rolldown drawing — one from Lapeer and the other from Warren. The winning numbers for that drawing were: 12, 17, 18, 20 and 25.

The total jackpot prize pool for the March 8 drawing was $36,566, so each jackpot winner received $18,283, before taxes. In total for the March 8 Rolldown drawing, there were 38,852 winners who shared $126,582 in prizes. In addition to the two jackpot winners, there were 155 winners who matched four numbers for a prize of $96; 4,049 winners who matched three numbers for a prize of $10; and 34,646 winners who matched two numbers for the $1 prize.

Tonia Kallio, 33, the winner from Lapeer, said she was shocked to discover she had won the jackpot!

"I was watching television and saw the winning Rolldown numbers flash across the screen," Kallio said. "I got really excited because I knew I had four of the five numbers. I ran out to my car to get the ticket and discovered that I actually matched all five numbers! My husband, Donald, said I looked like I was going to pass out!"

The Lapeer homemaker, who enjoys bowling, playing bingo and hunting in her free time, said she plans to use her winnings to pay bills and make home improvements. The winning ticket was purchased at CMS Mini Mart #24, 5494 Davison Road, in Lapeer.

Prior to turning the winning ticket in at the Lottery’s regional office in Bridgeport, the winner said she kept it in a safe deposit box.

The other winner in the March 8 Michigan Rolldown drawing, a Warren man, said he "almost had a heart attack" when he realized he matched all five numbers!

"I was watching the drawing on television and I immediately screamed for my wife to come look at the ticket," the winner said. "I was so excited I thought I was going to have a heart attack!"

The 74-year-old winner, who requested anonymity, said he plans to put his winnings in the bank until he decides what he wants to do with the money. An avid fisherman and regular Michigan Lottery player for over 20 years, the lucky man purchased the winning Michigan Rolldown "easy pick" ticket at Kroger #602, 28250 Dequindre Road, in Warren.

Prior to turning the winning ticket in at the Lottery’s regional office in Sterling Heights, the winner said he kept it in his wallet to ensure its safety.

Michigan Rolldown’s first drawing was held Monday, February 28, 2000. Drawings are conducted six days a week — Monday through Saturday — at 7:28 p.m., and the cost to play is $1 per wager. Tickets are available at the more than 6,400 Lottery retailers statewide.

The feature that makes Michigan Rolldown unique among other Michigan Lottery games is the "roll down" feature, ensuring that all of the prize money will be paid out each and every night. In the event that no player matches all five numbers drawn to win the jackpot, that prize money "rolls down" to players who match four of five numbers, giving them an even bigger win!

To play Michigan Rolldown, players select five numbers from a field of 33, or use the "easy pick" feature in which the computer terminal randomly picks five of 33 numbers. Odds to match all five numbers are 1 in 237,336, with overall odds to win a cash prize of 1 in 6.

Cash prizes are awarded for matching five, four, three and even two numbers. These top three prizes are pari-mutuel and, therefore, may vary from drawing to drawing. Pari-mutuel prizes are based on the number of tickets sold and the number of winners matching five, four and three numbers. The prize for matching two numbers is always $1.

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