LANSING, November 8, 2002 – Kathy Szykula of Warren recently turned 25 cents in pocket change into a $3,850 prize while playing the Michigan Lottery’s new Change Play game.

Szykula, who works as a bondsperson for Freedom Bail Bonds, purchased the winning ticket at Bur-Lers Variety Stores, 4130 E. 9 Mile Road, in Warren.

"I was shopping at Bur-Lers and a sales clerk told me a winning Change Play ticket had been sold there, but had not yet been claimed," said Szykula. "I immediately went home and checked the numbers on my ticket, and was pleased to learn I had won! I was in complete shock!"

Upon discovering she had won, the lucky winner said she went directly to the Lottery’s regional office in Sterling Heights to claim her prize. Szykula, an avid music fan, said she plans to use her 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 the unique wagers placed that day. The six winners share the prize money from that day’s drawing, and their individual winnings are proportional to the amount they wagered on the winning ticket.

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