A LOTTERY player finally hit the jackpot in his usual scratch card game after thinking he won just $100.
The Michigan lottery player wished to remain anonymous when claiming his $300,000 prize.
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The 64-year-old purchased the winning ticket at a Northshore EZ Mart in Muskegon, about 42 minutes from Grand Rapids.
He picked up a Fire and Ice Cashword scratch card as usual and was excited because he thought he had won $100.
When he scanned it on the lottery app, it told him to file a complaint.
“I thought, ‘What’s going on? It’s just a $100 winner!'” he told state lottery.
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“I handed my ticket to the clerk and a few moments later she said, ‘You won the jackpot!'”
Later that day, he handed the ticket to his son so he could scan it again.
“He scanned it into his lottery app and was surprised when $300,000 appeared on the screen. It was so exciting to share the news with my family!” he said.
The winner went to lottery headquarters to claim his prize and told officials he would use the money to pay for his truck and other bills and save some for savings.
“Winning $300,000 still doesn’t feel real! This award will allow me to live comfortably,” he said.
He won’t be taking home the full $300,000, as prizes over $5,000 are subject to 24% federal income tax and 4.25% state income tax, according to the Michigan Lottery.
PERSISTENT PLAYERS
Fellow Michigan resident Russell Morgenstern has played the Fantasy 5 lottery every day online for the past six years.
The game has draws seven days a week at 7:29 pm, and tickets must be purchased by 7:08 pm.
“Around 6pm on the night of the draw, I remembered I hadn’t bought my tickets yet, so I logged into my account and bought some tickets with easy-to-pick numbers,” he told state lottery.
Just two hours later, he received an email from the lottery informing him he was the winner.
How to claim your prize
Michigan Lottery players can claim prizes in person or by mail.
If you wish to claim a prize in person, you must make an appointment.
Prizes up to $600 can be redeemed at one retailer, but some retailers have lower limits.
Any prize between $601 and $99,999.99 may be claimed at a regional Lottery office or designated claim center by appointment only.
Prizes of $100,000 or more must be claimed at Lottery headquarters located at 101 E. Hillsdale in downtown Lansing.
Each winner must present a winning ticket, originals of their valid government-issued ID and Social Security card to claim the prize.
“When I saw there was a jackpot winner of $170,129 and the ticket was purchased online, I knew I was indeed the winner!” he told lottery officials.
He and his wife are retired and plan to use the windfall to renovate a lake house.
Despite winning the jackpot, Morgenstern said he will continue playing his favorite lottery game.
“I definitely plan to play the lottery again and hope to come back here,” he said.
Another lottery player shared his strategy after winning $50,000 twice.
Lottery officials are searching for the winner of an unclaimed $150,000 Powerball prize.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
