Sterling Heights Woman Wins $125,656 BIG CA$H Second Chance Jackpot Prize

Posted on July 29, 2025 by MI-Lottery

Tonya Hunwardsen holding $125,656 checkA Sterling Heights woman feels like she’s living in a dream after winning a $125,656 BIG CA$H second chance jackpot prize from the Michigan Lottery!

“Cash Vault is my favorite game to play online, and even when I don’t win playing the game, I’m happy to know I’m getting entries into the second chance,” said Tonya Hunwardsen. “I saw an email from the Lottery that said I’d won a $125,656 BIG CA$H jackpot prize, but I didn’t believe it was true until I received a call from the Lottery. As soon as I knew it was real, I told my dad and everyone else that I know!”

Hunwardsen, 61, won $125,656 after she was selected in a random drawing that took place July 8. She earned entries into the giveaway by playing the eligible BIG CA$H Second Chance Jackpot games online at MichiganLottery.com. For more information regarding eligible BIG CA$H Second Chance Jackpot games, please visit https://news.michiganlottery.com/bigcash.

Hunwardsen recently visited Lottery headquarters to claim her prize. She plans to invest her winnings.

“I feel extremely lucky and like I’m living in a dream,” said Hunwardsen.

Select online instant games include a second chance progressive jackpot drawing. Part of every purchase of the games funds one progressive jackpot prize which is awarded in a second chance drawing each month. Players earn one entry for every $0.50 wagered playing the eligible games. After the entry period has closed, a random drawing takes place with one jackpot winner being selected from all entries for that month.

The BIG CA$H Second Chance game launched in April 2022. Since the BIG CA$H Second Chance games launched, players have won $9.8 million in progressive prizes. In the last 12 months, players have won:

  • June 2025 – $125,656 progressive jackpot prize
  • May 2025 – $120,439 progressive jackpot prize
  • April 2025 – $127,333 progressive jackpot prize
  • March 2025 – $128,192 progressive jackpot prize
  • February 2025 – $108,138 progressive jackpot prize
  • January 2025 – $117,318 progressive jackpot prize
  • December 2024 – $121,481 progressive jackpot prize
  • November 2024 – $129, 866 progressive jackpot prize
  • October 2024 – $123,884 progressive jackpot prize
  • September 2024 – $114,176 progressive jackpot prize
  • August 2024 – $176,540 progressive jackpot prize
  • July 2024 – $205,831 progressive jackpot prize

Entries are only valid for the entry period in which they were earned. Each month, a new drawing period begins, and the progressive jackpot is reset to $5,000. The next drawing will take place Aug. 12.

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Genesee County Man Wins $25,000 a Year for Life from the Michigan Lottery Playing Lucky For Life

Posted on July 28, 2025 by MI-Lottery

Kenneth Stayt holding $390,000 checkA Genesee County man plans to “live easy” after winning a $25,000 a year for life Lucky For Life prize from the Michigan Lottery.

Kenneth Stayt, of Fenton, won the big prize when his Lucky For Life ticket matched the five white balls drawn on July 19: 12-23-33-35-36. He bought his winning ticket at Sagebrush Cantina, located at 14284 North Fenton Road in Fenton.

“I go to Sagebrush Cantina regularly and usually play Club Keno while I’m there, but this time I purchased a Lucky For Life ticket instead,” said Stayt. “I went to MichiganLottery.com to check the winning numbers around midnight and was amazed when I saw my ticket matched all five of the white balls. This is a life-changing amount of money that will allow me to live easy and not have to worry about things.

Winning Ticket“I’ve been keeping my big win a secret from my kids, and now that I have my check, I plan to surprise them with the money!”

Stayt, 70, visited Lottery headquarters recently to claim his prize. He chose to receive his winnings as a one-time lump sum payment of $390,000, rather than payments of $25,000 a year for 20 years or life, whichever is greater. He plans to share his winnings with family and friends and then invest the remainder.

For just $2 per play, Lucky For Life gives Lottery players a chance to win prizes ranging from $3 to a lifetime of cash. To win the game’s top prize of $1,000 a day for life, players must match all five winning numbers ranging from 1 to 48, plus one Lucky Ball ranging from 1 to 18. Players who match all five winning numbers, but not the Lucky Ball, will win $25,000 a year for life. Drawings take place at 10:38 p.m. seven days-a-week. Tickets may be purchased at Lottery retailers across the state and online at MichiganLottery.com.

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Washtenaw County Woman Wins $309,989 Fantasy 5 Jackpot from the Michigan Lottery

Posted on July 24, 2025 by MI-Lottery

Winning TicketA Washtenaw County woman expected to see a $10 prize when she scanned her Fantasy 5 ticket but instead found out she won a $309,989 Fantasy 5 jackpot from the Michigan Lottery!

The 54-year-old player, who chose to remain anonymous, matched the Fantasy 5 numbers in the July 12 drawing to win the big prize: 13-18-23-28-33. She bought her winning ticket at the Belleville Amoco, located at 10950 Belleville Road in Belleville.

“Fantasy 5 is one of my favorite games to play,” said the player. “I usually buy my tickets online, but I went out for breakfast that morning, so I stopped at a store to buy a ticket while I was out.

“I usually don’t check my tickets right after the drawing, but while I was sitting at home watching tv that night, something told me to check my Fantasy 5 ticket. I scanned it on the app thinking maybe it would be a $10 winner, so I was stunned when $309,989 came up on the scanner! This jackpot prize is such a blessing.”

The lucky player recently visited Lottery headquarters to claim her jackpot. With her winnings, she plans to pay bills, pay off her daughter’s student loans, and then save the remainder.

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. For an additional $1 per play, Double Play may be added to a Fantasy 5 ticket, giving players a second chance to win up to $110,000 in the nightly Double Play drawing. Players may win prizes in the regular nightly drawing, the Double Play drawing, or both. Fantasy 5 players select five numbers from one to 39. Players who match all five Fantasy 5 numbers drawn win a jackpot that starts at $100,000.

Fantasy 5 drawings are held seven days a week at 7:29 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at a retailer or online at MichiganLottery.com until 7:08 p.m. on the day of the drawing.

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Upper Peninsula Woman Wins $25,000 a Year for Life from the Michigan Lottery Playing Lucky For Life

Posted on July 23, 2025 by MI-Lottery

Lucky For LifeAn Upper Peninsula woman started shaking when she logged in to her Michigan Lottery account and saw a $25,000 a year for life Lucky For Life prize pending!

Carrie Settino, of L’Anse, won the big prize when her Lucky For Life ticket matched the five white balls drawn on July 2: 03-06-16-22-42. She bought her winning ticket online at MichiganLottery.com.

“I play Lucky For Life every once in a while, and whenever I play, I log into my account the next day to see if I won anything,” said Settino. “That’s exactly what I did this time, except instead of seeing the usual $4 or $6 prize, I saw a huge balance! I started shaking and thought to myself that there was no way it was real. Once I confirmed I really did win, I shared the exciting news with my family. It was awesome!”

Settino, 56, visited Lottery headquarters recently to claim her prize. She chose to receive her winnings as a one-time lump sum payment of $390,000, rather than payments of $25,000 a year for 20 years or life, whichever is greater. She plans to save her winnings.

For just $2 per play, Lucky For Life gives Lottery players a chance to win prizes ranging from $3 to a lifetime of cash. To win the game’s top prize of $1,000 a day for life, players must match all five winning numbers ranging from 1 to 48, plus one Lucky Ball ranging from 1 to 18. Players who match all five winning numbers, but not the Lucky Ball, will win $25,000 a year for life. Drawings take place at 10:38 p.m. seven days-a-week. Tickets may be purchased at Lottery retailers across the state and online at MichiganLottery.com.

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Oakland County Woman Wins $792,990 Fantasy 5 Jackpot from the Michigan Lottery with Ticket Bought in Northern Michigan

Posted on July 17, 2025 by MI-Lottery

Winning TicketA camping trip in Northern Michigan turned into a huge payday for an Oakland County woman who won a $792,990 Fantasy 5 jackpot from the Michigan Lottery!

The 67-year-old player, who chose to remain anonymous, matched the Fantasy 5 numbers in the July 3 drawing to win the big prize: 08-19-27-31-39. She bought her winning ticket at the Meijer store, located at 250 Meijer Drive in Gaylord.

“I went up north on a camping trip for Fourth of July weekend and bought a Fantasy 5 ticket while I was at the store,” said the player. “The next morning, on the Fourth of July, I checked the winning numbers on MichiganLottery.com and was so excited when I found out I won the big jackpot! I told some of the people at the surrounding campsites, so it was fun to celebrate with everyone.”

The lucky player recently visited Lottery headquarters to claim her jackpot. With her winnings, she plans to fix up her home, start college funds for her grandchildren, and take her family to Disney.

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. For an additional $1 per play, Double Play may be added to a Fantasy 5 ticket, giving players a second chance to win up to $110,000 in the nightly Double Play drawing. Players may win prizes in the regular nightly drawing, the Double Play drawing, or both. Fantasy 5 players select five numbers from one to 39. Players who match all five Fantasy 5 numbers drawn win a jackpot that starts at $100,000.

Fantasy 5 drawings are held seven days a week at 7:29 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at a retailer or online at MichiganLottery.com until 7:08 p.m. on the day of the drawing.

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