A Dearborn woman came forward to claim a $159,835 Fantasy 5 jackpot just four days before the prize was set to expire.
The player, who chose to remain anonymous, matched the winning numbers – 02-14-17-24-28 – from the April 26, 2014 Fantasy 5 drawing to win the game’s jackpot. She bought her winning ticket in Dearborn at the Dearborn Amoco Service Station, located at 22096 Michigan Avenue.
The lucky player, who visited Lottery headquarters late Thursday to claim her prize, didn’t share a reason for waiting so long to claim her prize, but plans to use the money to pay some bills and buy a new home.
The prize was set to expire at 4:45 p.m. on Monday. Fantasy 5 tickets are good for one year from the date of the drawing. Any prizes not claimed before the winning ticket expires go to to the state’s School Aid Fund.
Had the player not come forward to claim her prize, it would have been the first major prize to go unclaimed in 2015. In 2014, six major prizes went unclaimed, adding more than $1 million to the Michigan School Aid Fund.
Each Fantasy 5 play is only $1. For an additional $1 per play, EZmatch may be added to a Fantasy 5 ticket, giving players a chance to win up to $500 instantly. Fantasy 5 players select five numbers from one to 39. Players who match all five Fantasy 5 numbers drawn win a jackpot guaranteed to start at $100,000. Fantasy 5 drawings are held seven days a week at 7:29 p.m. Tonight’s Fantasy 5 jackpot is $120,000.