LANSING, October 4, 2005 – A very lucky Brighton man matched 10 numbers in the Michigan Lottery’s Keno game to win the top $250,000 prize.

The lucky 73-year-old has been playing the Lottery since it’s inception in 1972. After taking it to his regular retailer for validation, he thought he won a $2,500 prize. It was only after reviewing his ticket again that he discovered it was really a $250,000 winner! He kept the ticket with him at all times, even sleeping with it, before cashing it in at Lottery Central in Lansing. Before winning the money, he was going to do a reverse mortgage on his house, now he doesn’t have to. He also plans to use the prize money to go on an Alaskan cruise.

The lucky winning easy pick ticket was purchased at VG’s Food Center, 9870 E. Grand River Ave., in Brighton.

The Keno game is designed to appeal to players wanting better odds of winning a prize. To play Keno, a player selects 10 numbers between one and 80. The Lottery draws 22 numbers from the field of one to 80. Players win if they match six, seven, eight, nine or all 10 of the numbers on their ticket to the 22 drawn by the Lottery, or even if they match no numbers at all. A player matching 10 numbers wins $250,000; nine numbers wins $2,500; eight wins $250; seven wins $25; six wins $7 and matching zero numbers wins a free $1 instant game ticket. Keno drawings are held seven days a week.

All proceeds from the Lottery are contributed to the state School Aid Fund which supports kindergarten through 12th grade public education in Michigan. In fiscal year 2004, the contribution was $644.5 million.

For additional information, please visit the Lottery’s Web site at www.michigan.gov/lottery.

# # #