An avid Lottery player from Muskegon won $250,000 on a $5 Sparkling Gems instant ticket.

The Muskegon resident did some homework prior to purchasing instant lottery tickets.  A quick visit to the Michigan Lottery’s Web site to check the “Remaining Instant Game Prizes” gave this player the information needed to know they were going to purchase $20 in Sparkling Gems.  The Web site showed that the top prize of $250,000 was still out there waiting to be won.  The first three tickets scratched yielded $10 in winnings.  The fourth ticket was indeed the “Sparkling Gem” that this player was seeking!  Winnings are being used to purchase a new car and help put their children through college.

The winning ticket was sold by Norton Shores E-Z Mart located at 3416 Henry St. in Muskegon.

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 2011, the contribution to schools was over $727.3 million. Since its inception in 1972, the Lottery has contributed over $16 billion to education in Michigan.

For information on all Lottery games, please visit the Lottery’s Web site at www.michiganlottery.com.

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

Contact:  Andi Brancato, PR Director  517-335-5648
Agency:  Michigan Lottery Public Relations