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‘What does this mean,’ Michigan lottery player’s wife asked. Then she saw the zeros

A Michigan lottery player won $500,000.
A Michigan lottery player won $500,000. Getty Images/iStockphoto

A lottery player decided to follow his wife’s lead and won big, according to the Michigan Lottery.

The 56-year-old winner, who wanted to remain anonymous, said his wife had some luck winning prizes from instant games, while he typically prefers to buy draw game tickets, according to a Feb. 12 news release from the Michigan Lottery. This week, he won $500,000 when he decided to try the Michigan Lottery’s Lincoln instant game, which costs $5 per ticket.

“I gave the tickets to my wife to scratch, and since she wasn’t wearing her glasses, she handed one to me and asked: ‘What does this mean?’ as she pointed to the money bag symbol,” the winner told the Michigan Lottery. “I said ‘this’ is a really, really big winner!”

He bought his winning ticket at a Winn EZ Mart location. When he picked up his winnings from Michigan Lottery headquarters, he told lottery officials he plans to save the $500,000.

According to the lottery, players have won over $13 million playing the Lincoln instant game since it launched in May 2024.

Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.

If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.

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This story was originally published February 12, 2025 at 4:59 PM with the headline "‘What does this mean,’ Michigan lottery player’s wife asked. Then she saw the zeros."

Rhiannon Saegert
mcclatchy-newsroom
Rhiannon Saegert is a McClatchy Real-Time reporter covering the midwest from Southern Nevada. She’s an alumna of The University of North Texas, and has written for local newspapers like Waco Tribune-Herald and the Las Vegas Sun as well as Eater and other online publications.
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