LANSING, February 4, 2008 – The Michigan Lottery is taking its partnership with public education a step further with the launch of the State of Michigan "green ticket".

The $5 instant ticket, which goes on sale Feb. 4, features more than just the cash that Lottery players are familiar with. It will award eight lucky Michigan Lottery winners four-year Michigan Education Trust contracts valued up to $47,000 each. The contracts will provide four years of college tuition to eight Michigan youngsters chosen by the Lottery winners.

The State of Michigan ticket, patterned after the Lottery's first ticket that went on sale in 1972 for 50-cents, commemorates the Lottery's 35 years of support of public education. Since the Lottery was created in 1972 through a Constitutional amendment, it has contributed all of its profits—over $14 billion—to Michigan public schools.

"The State of Michigan ticket is an excellent way for us to take our support of public education to the next level by providing Lottery players the opportunity to send eight lucky children to college," said Lottery Commissioner M. Scott Bowen. "All of the Lottery's profits have always gone to public schools in Michigan but this particular Lottery prize will give players the chance to have a direct impact on one specific child's education."

The Department of Treasury, which administers the MET program, was pleased when Lottery officials approached them with the State of Michigan ticket concept. "With thousands of people playing the Michigan Lottery every day, this partnership will enhance our efforts to educate parents, grandparents and others about the importance of saving for college," said State Treasurer Robert J. Kleine. "Those who are awarded MET contracts can rest assured the selected child's future tuition is 'Set with MET'."

MET contracts will be awarded through second chance drawings to be conducted four times between March and May 2008. Players can enter their non-winning State of Michigan Lottery Instant tickets by mail or online at www.playercity.net, where they will find additional details about the MET prize.

In addition to the chance to win a four-year college education, the new green ticket has two top cash prizes of $200,000 and over $6.9 million in prizes in total.

The Lottery's contribution of over $14 billion in 35 years includes a record $748.9 million in fiscal year 2007. Over 95 cents of every dollar spent on Lottery tickets is returned to the state in the form of contributions to the state School Aid Fund, prizes to players and commissions to retailers.

For additional information on the State of Michigan green ticket, go to http://www.michigan.gov/lottery/0,1607,7-110-29200_48954---,00.html.

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