LANSING, April 25, 2003 – Larry Scanlon of Sterling Heights thought his eyes were playing tricks on him when he recently visited the Michigan Lottery’s Web site and learned he had matched the first five numbers in the April 18 Mega Millions drawing to win a $175,000 prize!  The winning numbers for that day’s drawing were: 5, 15, 24, 50, 52 and the Gold Mega Ball number was 3.

Scanlon, who works as a health care worker, purchased the winning Mega Millions “easy pick” ticket at VG’s Food Center, 40832 Ryan Road, in Sterling Heights.

“My wife, Marian, and I looked up the winning numbers on the Lottery’s Web site.” said Scanlon.  “When I learned the winning ticket had been purchased at the grocery store where I shop, I thought I should check my ticket.  I was on cloud nine upon discovering I had won!”

Scanlon said he kept the winning ticket in a “safe place” prior to turning it in at Lottery headquarters in Lansing.  The lucky man, who enjoys astronomy, working on home improvement projects and traveling in his spare time, said he plans to use part of his winnings to buy a new car, take a vacation, purchase a computer for his son and make investments for the future.

He offered the following words of encouragement to other Lottery hopefuls: “If you don’t play, you can’t win!”

On Wednesday, May 15, 2002 Mega Millions replaced The Big Game.  Mega Millions is a multistate lottery game in Michigan, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Virginia and Washington.  Wagers cost $1 each and tickets may be purchased at more than 7,000 Michigan Lottery retailers statewide.

Mega Millions drawings are conducted every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. The next Mega Millions drawing is Friday, April 25, with an estimated jackpot of $46 million. For more information about Mega Millions, visit the Michigan Lottery’s Web site at www.michigan.gov/lottery.

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