Oakland County Woman Wins $4 Million Playing the Michigan Lottery’s VIP Millions Instant Game

Posted on December 21, 2022 by MI_Lottery

Winning ticketA trip to the store to purchase a Thanksgiving turkey led an Oakland County woman to winning $4 million playing the Michigan Lottery’s VIP Millions instant game.

The lucky 49-year-old player, who chose to remain anonymous, bought her winning ticket at the Kroger store, located at 1237 North Coolidge Highway in Troy.

“It was the day before Thanksgiving, and my husband asked if I could run to the store and buy a turkey since he didn’t have time to,” said the player. “After going back and forth about who was going to go to the store since we were both busy, I agreed to. I purchased the turkey and then stopped and bought a VIP Millions ticket on my way out.

“When I got home and scratched the ticket, I saw I’d matched one of my numbers, but I didn’t scratch the winning amount. I logged in to the Lottery app and scanned the ticket on the app scanner. When confetti came up on the screen showing I’d won $4 million, I started shaking and felt like I couldn’t breathe. My family thought I was having a heart attack!

“I’m so glad that I ended up going to the store, because if my husband would have gone, we wouldn’t be here claiming a $4 million prize!”

The player visited Lottery headquarters recently to claim her prize. She chose to receive her prize as a one-time lump sum payment of about $2.7 million rather than 30 annuity payments for the full amount. With her winnings, she plans to pay bills, complete some home renovations, and then save the remainder for retirement.

Players have won more than $58 million playing VIP Millions which launched in June. Each $30 ticket offers players a chance to win prizes ranging from $30 up to $4 million. More than $106 million in prizes remain, including two $4 million top prizes and 147 $5,000 prizes.

In 2021, Lottery players won more than $1.8 billion playing instant games.

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Ingham County Man Wins $100,000 on the Michigan Lottery’s The Big Spin Show

Posted on December 21, 2022 by MI_Lottery


An Ingham County man is looking forward to purchasing a new home after winning $100,000 on The Big Spin show.

Michael Thompson, 55, won the big prize after spinning the prize wheel on The Big Spin show hosted by Detroit basketball champion, John Salley. Thompson was selected to participate in the show after entering codes from non-winning The Big Spin tickets online.

“When I got the call to be on The Big Spin show I was incredibly happy and excited,” said Thompson. “This has been a crazy experience from start to finish and I still can’t believe I am leaving with a $100,000 prize! I am planning to use the money towards a down payment on a new home.

Left to Right: John Salley, Michael Thompson, Darlene Thompson“I will for sure continue playing the Lottery. Being on the show proved that you can win some big bucks!”

Thompson was one of five players selected for The Big Spin show in a random drawing. Entries are still being accepted into The Big Spin second chance drawing. Players may enter non-winning The Big Spin tickets at www.MIBigSpin.com for a chance to appear on the televised game show. Ten additional players will be selected to appear on the Lottery’s The Big Spin televised events. The two remaining The Big Spin second chance drawings are scheduled to take place on Dec. 28 and March 1.

Each player selected will spin The Big Spin wheel and have a chance to win up to $2 million. All the players who spin The Big Spin wheel are guaranteed to win at least $100,000.

The Big Spin televised events will air shortly after evening Lottery drawings. Players may submit non-winning The Big Spin ticket Spin Codes at www.MIBigSpin.com. By entering codes, players will earn entries for the drawings for the opportunity to appear on television and spin the big wheel.

Each $10 The Big Spin ticket offers players a chance to instantly win prizes ranging from $10 up to $1 million. Players have won more than $8 million playing The Big Spin which launched in September. More than $62 million in prizes remain, including three $1 million top prizes, four $10,000 prizes, and 129 $1,000 prizes.

In 2021, Lottery players won more than $1.8 billion playing instant games. Instant games may be purchased at the Lottery’s 10,500 retailers across the state.

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Eaton County Educator Wins Excellence in Education Award from the Michigan Lottery

Posted on December 20, 2022 by MI_Lottery

Jill Ford and school facility dog - AlfieAn Eaton County educator known for engaging with her students and encouraging personal growth has been honored with an Excellence In Education award from the Michigan Lottery.

The award winner, Jill Ford, is a fourth-grade teacher at Willow Ridge Elementary. The school is part of Grand Ledge Public Schools.

The Michigan Lottery established the Excellence In Education awards in 2014 to recognize outstanding public-school educators across the state during the school year.

Winners of the weekly award receive a plaque, a $1,500 cash prize, and a $500 grant to their classroom, school, or school district. One of the weekly winners will be selected as the Educator of the Year and will receive a $10,000 cash prize.

Each winner also is featured in a news segment on the Lottery’s media partner stations: WXYZ-TV in Detroit, FOX 17 in Grand Rapids, FOX 47 in Lansing, and WNEM-TV in Saginaw. The news segment featuring Ford will air this evening.

Ford credits her father and the appreciation his students showed for drawing her to a career in education.

“I have always enjoyed working with children. My father was a teacher, and I was always inspired when his students would come back years later to see him and show appreciation for all he did.”

Ford says using games to teach her students math are some of her favorite activities to do with students.

“The students in my class love learning math through playing games. We use math99.com to compete with multiplication facts that the students really enjoy and it’s wonderful to see them engage with each other during the competition.”

Ford’s husband nominated her for the award. The nomination cited her willingness to take on additional responsibility to benefit all students.

“Jill Ford is a seasoned educator who has consistently demonstrated teaching that engages her fourth-grade students to move forward with a growth mindset as well actual improvement with grades. Jill has gone over and above the call of duty by taking on the responsibility of the Willow Ridge Elementary school facility dog – Alfie. Alfie is used in all grades at the school has a significant impact on special needs students especially an autistic student in her class. Jill cares for Alfie evenings and weekends and oversees Alfie’s schedule with other teachers. Jill is a standout leader in her school by providing wisdom and stability for new teachers as well as be mentor teacher for college students who are training for a career in education.  She is highly respected and trusted at Willow Ridge.”

Ford earned a bachelor’s degree from the Moody Bible Institute and an Elementary Education degree from Arizona State University. She has been an educator for 13 years, nine in her current position.

Excellence in Education award nominees are evaluated on the following criteria:

  • Excellence – Their work consistently helps students and/or their schools or school districts advance to higher levels of academic achievement.
  • Dedication – They consistently go above and beyond expectations to help students succeed.
  • Inspiration – Their work inspires others around them to exceed expectations either academically or professionally.
  • Leadership – They demonstrate clear leadership skills in their positions with their school or school districts.
  • Effectiveness – The nominee’s work has clear and positive results on the educational advancement of students within the school or school district.
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Mega Millions Jackpot Climbs to $465 Million for Tonight’s Drawing

Posted on December 20, 2022 by MI_Lottery

Mega Millions LogoCash is still piling up in the Mega Millions jackpot which now stands at $465 million for tonight’s drawing. The cash option for the jackpot is $250 million.

If a lucky player wins the jackpot, it will be the third largest Mega Millions jackpot won this year. In July, one ticket purchased in Illinois matched the five white balls and Mega ball to win a $1.3 billion jackpot. The Mega Millions jackpot was last won in October when two winning tickets purchased in Florida and California split the $502 million jackpot.

The Mega Millions jackpot was last won in Michigan in Jan. 2021 when an Oakland County lottery club won $1.05 billion. That jackpot was the largest ever won in Michigan and the fifth largest in U.S. lottery history.

Mega Millions drawings take place each Tuesday and Friday evening. Each Mega Millions play is only $2. For an additional $1 per play, players have the opportunity to add a “Megaplier” that can multiply non-jackpot prizes by up to five times. Mega Millions tickets are sold in 45 states, Washington D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Mega Millions tickets may be purchased online at MichiganLottery.com and at any of the Lottery’s 10,500 retailers around the state until 10:45 p.m. the day of the drawing.

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Detroit Woman Wins $300,000 on the Michigan Lottery’s The Big Spin Show

Posted on December 20, 2022 by MI_Lottery


A Detroit woman is looking forward to relaxing after winning a $300,000 prize on the Michigan Lottery’s The Big Spin show.

Charlotte Hooks, 57, won the big prize after spinning the prize wheel on The Big Spin show hosted by Detroit basketball champion, John Salley. Hooks was selected to participate in the show after entering codes from non-winning The Big Spin tickets online.

“When I saw an email from the Lottery informing me I was chosen to be on The Big Spin show, I was shocked and didn’t believe it was real,” said Hooks. “Although I hoped I would win, I never thought I would be here and I’m still shocked.

John Salley (left), Charlotte Hooks, Michael Hooks (right)“Winning $300,000 means I won’t have to work so hard and can relax a little. With the money, I plan to complete some projects around the house.”

Hooks was one of five players selected for The Big Spin show in a random drawing. Entries are still being accepted into The Big Spin second chance drawing. Players may enter non-winning The Big Spin tickets at www.MIBigSpin.com for a chance to appear on the televised game show. Ten additional players will be selected to appear on the Lottery’s The Big Spin televised events. The two remaining The Big Spin second chance drawings are scheduled to take place on Dec. 28 and March 1.

Each player selected will spin The Big Spin wheel and have a chance to win up to $2 million. All the players who spin The Big Spin wheel are guaranteed to win at least $100,000.

The Big Spin televised events will air shortly after evening Lottery drawings. Players may submit non-winning The Big Spin ticket Spin Codes at www.MIBigSpin.com. By entering codes, players will earn entries for the drawings for the opportunity to appear on television and spin the big wheel.

Each $10 The Big Spin ticket offers players a chance to instantly win prizes ranging from $10 up to $1 million. Players have won more than $8 million playing The Big Spin which launched in September. More than $62 million in prizes remain, including three $1 million top prizes, four $10,000 prizes, and 129 $1,000 prizes.

In 2021, Lottery players won more than $1.8 billion playing instant games. Instant games may be purchased at the Lottery’s 10,500 retailers across the state.

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