LANSING, September 30, 2008 – Douglas Wheaton of North Branch has claimed the fourth $80,000 8 Over 8 instant ticket prize, leaving four, $80,000 prizes yet to be claimed.

A long-time Lottery player, Wheaton said the win “couldn’t have come at a better time.”  The regular Lottery player plans to pay bills and put the prize money toward his retirement.

The fourth of eight lucky top prize winning tickets was purchased at Union Station 1960 W. Hemphill Rd., in Flint.

8 Over 8  is just one of many Michigan Lottery instant tickets available at nearly 11,000 Lottery retailers statewide.

Over 95 cents of every dollar spent on Lottery tickets is returned to the state in the form of contributions to the state School Aid Fund, prizes to players and commissions to retailers. In fiscal year 2007, the contribution to schools was $748.9 million. Since its inception in 1972, the Lottery has contributed more than $14.3 billion to education in Michigan.

For additional information, please visit the Lottery’s Web site at https://www.michiganlottery.com/.

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