LANSING, June 19, 2006 - Some people might consider themselves lucky.  Then they meet Robert Thompson.

Thompson, a 51-year-old "professional" Lottery player from Saginaw, has won at least $500 in 10 different states, including West Virginia, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky, to name a few.  He's also won $5,000 "a couple of times."

While those wins are impressive, they don't match his most recent of win a $140,980 prize in the Michigan Lottery's Fantasy 5 game in the June 13 drawing.

The lucky player plans to use the prize money to take several trips and simply enjoy his winnings.  And he has no plans to retire as a Lottery player, adding that he maybe he'll win big in one of the states he visits during his upcoming travels. 

Thompson, who is retired, purchased his winning ticket at MK Dixie LLC, 4806 Dixie Highway, in Saginaw.

Fantasy 5 drawings are held seven days a week.  Jackpots start at $100,000 and grow by approximately $5,000 daily.

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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