LANSING, June 20, 2000 — Patricia Johnson of Detroit could hardly contain her excitement when she discovered she was holding a winning $150,000 Big Game ticket! She matched the first five numbers in the June 13 Big Game drawing to win the $150,000 prize. That day’s winning numbers were: 4, 5, 6, 17, 23 and the Big Money Ball number was 2.

"I stopped at the store and picked up a winning number report," Johnson said. "I didn’t actually check my Big Game ticket until the next day. When I saw I had matched five numbers I started hollering, ‘I won!’ I was so excited — it is so hard to believe I actually won!"

The lucky lady said she enjoys playing Michigan Lottery games occasionally, and her favorites are Michigan Lotto and The Big Game. She purchased the winning Big Game "easy pick" ticket at Ashton Drugs and Liquor, 18201 Schoolcraft, in Detroit.

Prior to turning the winning ticket in at Lottery headquarters in Lansing, the winner said she had her sister keep it to ensure its safety. Johnson said she plans to use her winnings to purchase a new home and pay bills.

The Big Game is a multistate lottery game in Michigan, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Virginia. Wagers cost $1 each and tickets may be purchased at more than 6,400 Michigan Lottery retailers statewide.

Big Game drawings are conducted every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. The next Big Game drawing is tonight (Tuesday), June 20, with an estimated jackpot of $10 million.

###