LANSING, February 24, 2009 – When Eugene Ward checked his Mega Millions numbers in the newspaper he thought the numbers were printed wrong. He was shocked to learn he matched four white Mega Millions ball numbers and the gold Mega ball number on January 24 and won $10,000!

The regular Lottery player from Oxford hid the winning ticket in his wallet before cashing it at the Lottery’s Sterling Heights office. Ward has no special plans for the money.

The lucky winning ticket was purchased at Meijer #197, 900 N. Lapeer Rd., in Oxford.

Mega Millions is a multi-state lottery game in Michigan, California, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Virginia and Washington. Wagers cost $1 each and tickets may be purchased at nearly 11,000 Michigan 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 2008, the contribution to schools was $740.7 million. Since its inception in 1972, the Lottery has contributed more than $15 billion to education in Michigan.

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

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