LANSING, January 17, 2006 – A lucky Byron Center homemaker is $10,000 richer thanks to the Michigan Lottery’s Mega Millions game.  Sylvia Gagnon matched four white balls and the Mega ball to win the prize.

The Mega Millions prize structure changed beginning with the June 24 drawing when California became part of the Mega Millions game.  The previous prize for matching four white balls and the Mega ball was $5,000.

The 55-year-old has played the Lottery since the mid 1970’s and this is her largest win to date.  She was in complete shock when her numbers matched the numbers on the Lottery’s Web site.  Gagnon plans to pay her truck off and purchase a front loading washer.

The lucky winning easy pick ticket was purchased at Meijer #36, 5500 Clyde Park Ave., SW, in Wyoming.

Mega Millions is a multi-state lottery game in Michigan, California, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Virginia and Washington.  Wagers cost $1 each and tickets may be purchased at more than 10,000 Michigan Lottery retailers statewide.

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 2005, the contribution was $667.6 million.

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

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