LANSING, April 8, 2002 – Just how high will the Michigan Lottery’s Big Game jackpot soar before some lucky player finds the winning combination?
That’s the question on the minds of Michigan Lottery players throughout the state today. As of 11 a.m. (Eastern) today, lottery officials for The Big Game announced that – due to solid ticket sales – the estimated jackpot for April 9, has been increased by $3 million! The jackpot for tomorrow night’s Big Game drawing now sits at $153 million!
"Not only has spring fever taken hold of the state this week; Big Game jackpot fever has set in as well," said Acting Michigan Lottery Commissioner James Kipp. "Lottery players from Detroit to Copper Harbor are all dreaming about what they could do with $153 million. I really hope that dream comes true for some lucky players in Michigan Tuesday night!"
If one winning ticket matches all six numbers in Tuesday night’s drawing and the player has selected annuity payments over 26 years, the $153 million jackpot would amount to pre-tax payments of roughly:
- $5.88 million per year;
- $113,165 per week; or
- $16,166 per day!
For those who prefer to take their cash winnings up-front, it’s a pretty nice payday as well. If one lucky cash-option player matches all six winning numbers, he or she will take home a check for approximately $81.8 million (before taxes), the estimated present cash value of Tuesday’s $153 million jackpot!
"This is obviously a lot of money we’re talking about," said Kipp. "But, we want to remind players that, besides the jackpot, there are lots of prizes to be won in The Big Game. Even if you don’t match all six numbers, you could still win up to $150,000 on a single wager. So I want to caution everyone to check their tickets very carefully to ensure you’re not throwing away a winner!"
Big Game tickets are available in Michigan, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Virginia. Wagers for The Big Game cost $1 and tickets can be purchased at more than 7,000 Michigan Lottery retailers statewide. Tuesday’s drawing will be conducted at 11 p.m. and broadcast on cable superstation WGN out of Chicago as well as a network of Michigan stations
(check local listings). For more information, you can also visit The Big Game’s Web site at: www.theofficialbiggame.com.
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