LANSING, November 15, 2002 – Harnett Weatherspoon of Detroit couldn’t believe his eyes when he recently saw his 71 cents in pocket change instantly turned into a $7,881 prize in the Michigan Lottery’s newest game – – Change Play.

The 65-year-old winner purchased the winning ticket at Detroit Palace Market, 8105 Fenkell Street, in Detroit.

"I picked up a winning number report from a local Lottery retailer," stated Weatherspoon. "I was thrilled to learn I had won!"

Weatherspoon, an avid football and basketball fan, told Lottery officials that he kept the winning ticket in his pocket at all times prior to turning it in to the Lottery’s regional office in Dearborn Heights. The lucky winner said he plans to invest his winnings.

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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