LANSING, June 23, 2010 – A long-time Lottery player has claimed the biggest prize of his life.

Charles Hunter of Detroit claimed a $128,478 Fantasy 5 prize in the June 17 drawing. Mr. Hunter claimed his prize Monday at Lottery Central in Lansing.

Hunter found out he won by checking the Michigan Lottery’s Web site. After realizing he won, Hunter proclaimed, “We did a little jumping around.”

The Detroit man won prizes in the past, including a $100,000 prize in a Cash 5 drawing in 1992. “I play every day, I haven’t missed a drawing since I won the first time,” Hunter said. “You have to play to win, so I figure if I keep playing, the law of averages says I will win.” Hunter says he plays about $65 a week on various Lottery games and while he wins enough to keep him interested, it is all worth it now.

Hunter and his wife do not know yet what they plan to do with their money. “Fortunately we are in a position where we can sit on it and decide what we want to do.”

The winning easy-pick ticket was purchased at Jefferson Express, 14900 E. Jefferson Ave., in Detroit.

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 2009, the contribution to schools was $724.5 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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