LANSING, September 28, 2009 – Joseph Elwart of Imlay City won a $10,000 Mega Millions prize. He matched four while ball numbers and the gold Mega ball number on September 15 to win the prize.

Elwart kept the winning ticket in his pocket until he cashed it at the Lottery’s Sterling Heights office. He plans to pay bills with the prize money.

The winning easy-pick ticket was purchased at Countryside Market, 1015 N. Van Dyke Rd., in Imlay City.

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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