LANSING, February 25, 2009 – Christina Villarreal cashed in when she matched four white ball numbers and the gold Mega ball number on her February 5 Mega Millions ticket. The Southgate woman won $10,000.

Villarreal hid the winning ticket in a safe before cashing it at the Lottery’s Dearborn Heights office. She plans to pay bills with the prize money.

The winning easy-pick ticket was purchased at Mulberry Lanes Ent. Inc., 13760 Dix Toledo, in Southgate.

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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