LANSING, May 20, 2002 – The month of May started out great for a lucky Sterling Heights man who matched five numbers plus the Wild Ball in the May 1 Michigan Millions drawing to win a $10,635 prize! The winning numbers for that day’s drawing were: 11, 15, 23, 24, 32, 49 and the Wild Ball number was 13.

In total for the May 1 Michigan Millions drawing, 1,411 winners shared $63,416 in prizes. In addition to the Sterling Heights winner, four winners matched five numbers to win a $2,938 prize; 34 winners matched four numbers plus the Wild Ball to win a $171 prize; 535 winners matched four numbers to win a $58 prize; and 837 winners matched three numbers plus the Wild Ball to win the $5 prize.

"I checked the winning numbers the morning after the drawing," the winner, who requested anonymity, said. "I didn’t believe it, so I woke my wife and had her double-check them for me."

The winning Michigan Millions "easy pick" ticket was purchased at Davids Liquor Shoppe, 38170 Van Dyke Ave., in Sterling Heights.

Prior to turning in the winning ticket at the Lottery’s regional office in Sterling Heights, the 53-year-old winner kept it in his wallet at all times to ensure its safety. The lucky man, who works as an auto body repairman at Van Dyke Dodge, said he plans to use his winnings to pay bills. There is no doubt he and his wife will enjoy their recent Lottery luck!

The first Michigan Millions drawing was held Wednesday, February 28, 2001. Drawings are conducted twice a week—Wednesday and Saturday—at 7:28 p.m., and the cost to play is $1 per wager. Tickets are available at more than 7,000 Michigan Lottery retailers statewide.

To play Michigan Millions, players select six numbers from a field of 51, or use the "easy pick" feature in which the computer terminal randomly picks six of 51 numbers. During the drawing, the Lottery draws six numbers from a field of 51. Anyone matching these numbers wins the jackpot. The Lottery then draws a seventh number—the Wild Ball—from the remaining 45. Players matching five numbers and the Wild Ball will win an estimated $20,000 prize. There are four other ways to win, with and without the Wild Ball.

Cash prizes are awarded for matching six numbers, five numbers, five numbers plus the Wild Ball, four numbers, four numbers plus the Wild Ball and three numbers plus the Wild Ball. The top five prizes are pari-mutuel and may vary from drawing to drawing. Pari-mutuel prizes are based on the number of tickets sold and the number of winners at each prize level. The prize for matching three numbers plus the Wild Ball is always $5.

Michigan Millions drawings are conducted every Wednesday and Saturday. The estimated jackpot for the Saturday, May 18 drawing is $17.5 million.

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