LANSING, July 30, 2002 – A lucky Kalamazoo man matched five numbers plus the Wild Ball in the July 20 Michigan Millions drawing to win a $12,209 prize!  The winning numbers for that day’s drawing were: 6, 9, 21, 37, 41, 44 and the Wild Ball number was 43.

In total for the July 20 Michigan Millions drawing, 1,689 winners shared $72,531 in prizes. In addition to the Kalamazoo winner, 12 winners matched five numbers to win a $1,124 prize; 24 winners matched four numbers plus the Wild Ball to win a $279 prize; 759 winners matched four numbers to win a $47 prize; and 893 winners matched three numbers plus the Wild Ball to win the $5 prize.

"I looked up the winning numbers while I was on a break at work," the winner said. "When I realized I had matched five numbers and the Wild Ball, I was completely shaken up and nervous until I turned the ticket in to the Lottery!"

The winning Michigan Millions "easy pick" ticket was purchased at Comstock Beer Store, 6086 E. Michigan, in Kalamazoo.

Prior to turning in the winning ticket at the Lottery’s regional office in Sterling Heights, the 53-year-old winner, who requested anonymity, kept it in his billfold at all times to ensure its safety. The lucky maintenance worker said he plans to use his winnings to pay bills.

The first Michigan Millions drawing was held Wednesday, February 28, 2001. Drawings are conducted twice a week—Wednesday and Saturday—at 7:28 p.m., and the cost to play is $1 per wager. Tickets are available at more than 7,000 Michigan Lottery retailers statewide.

To play Michigan Millions, players select six numbers from a field of 51, or use the "easy pick" feature in which the computer terminal randomly picks six of 51 numbers. During the drawing, the Lottery draws six numbers from a field of 51. Anyone matching these numbers wins the jackpot. The Lottery then draws a seventh number—the Wild Ball—from the remaining 45. Players matching five numbers and the Wild Ball will win an estimated $20,000 prize. There are four other ways to win, with and without the Wild Ball.

Cash prizes are awarded for matching six numbers, five numbers, five numbers plus the Wild Ball, four numbers, four numbers plus the Wild Ball and three numbers plus the Wild Ball. The top five prizes are pari-mutuel and may vary from drawing to drawing. Pari-mutuel prizes are based on the number of tickets sold and the number of winners at each prize level. The prize for matching three numbers plus the Wild Ball is always $5.

Michigan Millions drawings are conducted every Wednesday and Saturday. The guaranteed jackpot for the Wednesday, July 31 drawing is $2 million.

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