LANSING, September 6, 2011 – Amber Thompson became a very rich woman on September 2 when she won the grand prize in the Michigan Lottery’s Red Hot & Blue 7s Instant ticket drawing at Arts, Beats & Eats in Royal Oak.

Thompson, of Alma, was overwhelmed when she realized she was the lucky winner of the $270,000 prize. She said she is hoping to purchase a home with the prize money.

Thompson and her fellow finalists were randomly given colored Michigan Lottery t-shirts before the drawing that corresponded with color blocks on the prize wheel used for the drawing. Thompson, wearing the blue shirt, walked away the big winner.

Other finalists in the drawing, whose names were selected August 17, were Charles Watts of Hephzibah, GA; Jeannette Drumm of Birmingham; Tim Moran of Westland; and Steven Moore of Auburn Hills. They each received a $5,000 appearance fee for participating in the live drawing on September 2.

The finalists earned their spot in the drawing by entering non-winning Red Hot & Blue 7s instant tickets on the Lottery’s Player’s Club Web site, www.michiganlottery.com.

Over 94 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 2010, the contribution to schools was $701.3 million. Since its inception in 1972, the Lottery has contributed more than $15 billion to education in Michigan.

“The Michigan Lottery. All across the state good things happen.”

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EDITOR’S NOTE: To access a photograph to use, go to:

http://www.michigan.gov/images/lottery/Amber_Thompson-270000-Alma_362502_7.jpg

Thompson was the winner of $270,000 and the other finalists each received an appearance fee of $5,000. Pictured conducting the drawing are the Lottery’s Beth McLeod (left) and Aggie Usedly. (Photo by http://www.domagalskiphotography.com)