LANSING, October 24, 2002 – – Jason Bush of Big Rapids transformed his spare change into big money with the Michigan Lottery’s newest game – – Change Play. The 72-cent Change Play wager he purchased for the October 15 drawing brought him an $8,784 prize.

Bush, who works as a manager at Star Shooter, purchased the winning Change Play ticket at Admiral Petroleum Company #8, 805 N. State St., in Big Rapids.

"I called the gas station where I purchased the ticket to find out what the winning numbers were," said Bush. "I still cannot believe I won!"

Bush, 28, said he kept the winning ticket in his wallet to ensure its safety prior to turning it in at the Lottery’s regional office in Wyoming. The lucky winner, who enjoys golfing in his free time, added that he plans to use his winnings to pay bills.

The first Change Play drawing took place on Monday, October 14, 2002 and drawings are held every night just after 9:00 p.m. Change Play allows players to use loose change from any purchase to buy a chance to win thousands of dollars with six guaranteed winners each day. The six winning tickets are randomly selected in a computerized drawing that picks from all of the unique wagers placed that day. The six winners share all of the prize money from that day’s drawing, and their individual winnings are proportional to the amount they wagered on the winning ticket.