The 58-year-old winner from Kalamazoo County had his wife scratch off the ticket. She thought they had won a few hundred dollars, but the prize totaled $300,000.
“We took the ticket to the store to double check it and thought the machine was broken when a message came up to file a claim at the Lottery office,” the couple told officials.
Thinking the machine was broken, the couple took the ticket to the counter to confirm their winnings.
Once the clerk confirmed, the couple immediately jumped in the car and drove to lottery headquarters in Lansing.
“It’s always been a dream of ours to be at the Lottery headquarters claiming a big prize, and today that dream became a reality!” the winner told officials.
They to use the winnings to purchase a home and “pay it forward,” they told officials.
Kalamazoo County is about a 75-mile drive southwest from Lansing.
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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