LANSING, April 20, 2000 — There are plenty of reasons for Michigan Lottery players to try their luck on The Big Game this Friday — 66 million reasons to be exact! After no one matched all six numbers in the Tuesday, April 18 Big Game drawing, the Michigan Lottery’s Big Game jackpot swelled to an estimated $66 million for the Friday, April 21 drawing.

"We are absolutely thrilled about The Big Game jackpot," said Michigan Lottery Commissioner Don Gilmer. "This jackpot is generating a lot of excitement among our players. We would love to make a lucky Lottery player’s dream of being a millionaire come true for someone here in Michigan this weekend!"

If one player in Michigan were to have the only winning ticket to match all six Big Game numbers, it would be the largest jackpot ever awarded to a single ticket holder in Michigan Lottery history! The largest to date is the $45.6 million Big Game jackpot from the January 24, 1997 drawing; that prize was divided among the 17-member "Friends Forever" lottery club of Jackson.

If one winning ticket matches all six numbers and the player has selected annuity payments, before taxes it would amount roughly to:

$2.53 million annually for 26 years; or
$48,816 per week; or
$6,973 per day!

A player who selects cash option for jackpot winnings would also have a nice payday. The present cash value of the $66 million jackpot is estimated at approximately $34 million, before taxes!

The Big Game offers nine ways to win cash prizes ranging from $1 to the jackpot, including a second-tier prize of $150,000 for matching the first five numbers. The other participating Big Game states are Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Virginia. To date, six Big Game jackpots have been won by Michigan Lottery players. Wagers cost $1 each and tickets may be purchased at more than 6,400 Michigan Lottery retailers statewide.

Largest Total Jackpots Awarded in Michigan

Largest Single Jackpots Awarded in Michigan