A LUCKY player won $4 million in an instant game.
A 52-year-old gambler, who chose to remain anonymous, purchased the winning ticket at a Fastlane convenience store in Saginaw, Michigan, about 100 miles northwest of Detroit.
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He said he bought two tickets to the $4 million Ultimate instant game while he was getting gas.
He initially thought the scanner was broken after the first ticket showed he needed to file a claim.
“I scraped off the barcodes, scanned the first ticket and got a message to file a claim,” he said.
I scanned the ticket again and when the message appeared the second time, I thought the scanner was broken,” he added.
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He said he wasn’t sure what was going on, especially when the scanner scanned the second ticket correctly.
Then his luck fell upon him.
“I went to my car to get gas and got a ticket while I waited. It’s difficult to describe the feeling when I saw the amount gained. I got in the car and yelled, ‘We just won $4 million!’” he said.
The winner recently visited the lottery headquarters to claim the grand prize, lottery officials said.
The player chose to receive his prize as a one-time payment of around $2.7 million.
He said he would use the money to buy land and invest.
HOW TO PLAY THE INSTANT GAME
To play the $4 million Ultimate Instant Game, any of your numbers must match any of the winning numbers.
Each ticket costs US$30.
Prizes range from US$30 to US$4 million.
Instant Lottery tickets can be purchased at any of 10,500 retailers across the state of Michigan.
Lottery winnings: lump sum or annual fee?
Players who win big on lottery tickets typically have a choice to make: lump sum or annual fee?
Both payment methods can affect how much money you receive from your prize.
Annuities are paid slowly in increments, usually over 30 years.
Lump sums are paid all at once, but in smaller amounts since taxes are withheld all at once. This means 24% of your prize goes to Uncle Sam immediately. Many states also tax earnings.
Annuities can give winners time to create the financial infrastructure needed to receive a life-changing amount of money, but lump sums have the advantage of being taxed only once.
It’s also worth considering inflation when making a choice, as payments don’t adjust to the value of a dollar. This means you will likely receive less valuable money at the end of an annuity.
Each state and game pays prizes differently, so it’s best to check with your state’s lottery to confirm payment policies. A financial advisor can also help you weigh the pros and cons of each option.
Experts have differing opinions on the possibility of get the lump sum or take the annual fee.
Players won a combined total of more than $11 million in the scratch-off game, lottery officials said.
The game was released in June 2024.
HOW TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE
Lottery officials said Michigan’s claim centers are open by appointment only.
To schedule, you can call 844-917-6325.
They said delivery and mailing claims are also accepted.
Your winnings may be subject to federal, state and local income taxes, except for prizes under $600, in which case authorities do not withhold taxes.
The US Sun wrote about other lucky lottery winners.
A player in Michigan won $6 million in an instant game but had to give up $2 million to pay taxes.
Another player in Michigan won $4 million and took months to realize he had won.
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible player is someone who:
- Set time and monetary limits before playing
- Only games with money they can lose
- Never chase your losses
- Don’t play if you are upset, irritated or depressed
If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling addiction, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700 or visit the National Council on Problem Gambling online.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
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