LANSING, March 11, 2002 – A lucky Howell man’s persistence paid off! After consistently playing birthdays of family members on the Lottery’s Keno! game for several years, the lucky man enjoyed a big payday—the game’s $250,000 top prize!

The lucky man, who requested anonymity, said he was shocked to learn he had matched 10 of the Keno! numbers drawn on Friday, March 8—1, 2, 6, 8, 11, 21, 36, 41, 75 and 78. After checking the numbers on his ticket by calling the Lottery’s toll-free Lottery Link number, (800) 822-8888—a total of three times—he realized he had a winning ticket.

The winning ticket was purchased at CVS/Pharmacy #08046, 1260 E. Grand River Ave., in Howell.

"I was so surprised and shocked," he said. "I got my ticket out of the car immediately, awakened my wife and told her, ‘I think we won $250,000!’ We are both very excited!"

He kept the winning ticket in an armoire in his house before claiming his prize at Lottery headquarters in Lansing. Even though the winner has no specific plans yet for his winnings, he and his wife are considering doing some traveling or purchasing a new car.

The winner, who enjoys woodworking and playing Lottery games in his spare time, offered the following words of wisdom to other Lottery players: "Just keep playing. You have to play to win—without a ticket you can’t possibly win!"

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.

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