Lottery player who thought he won $100 actually won $300K

NORTH MUSKEGON, Mich. (WOOD) — A Muskegon-area man won $300,000 from a scratch-off lottery ticket.

The man bought his ticket from Northshore E-Z Mart at 1385 Holton Road near Giles Road in North Muskegon, the Michigan Lottery said in a Monday release. The 64-year-old man is choosing to remain anonymous.

“I play the Cashword games often,” he said in the release. “When I scratched this ticket off, I thought I won $100, but I scanned it to be sure. When a message to file a claim at the Lottery office came up, I thought: ‘What is going on? It’s only a $100 winner!’ I handed my ticket to the clerk and a few moments later she said: ‘You won the jackpot!’

He plans on using the winnings to pay off his truck and bills and will save the rest, the Michigan Lottery said. He said it will allow him “to live comfortably.”

“Winning $300,000 still doesn’t feel real,” he said.

The odds of winning the lottery are slim, with a 1 in 302.6 million chance of winning the Mega Millions jackpot and a 1 in 292.2 million chance of winning the Powerball. The Michigan Lottery advises that “knowing your limits is always the best bet.” If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the 24/7 Michigan Problem Gambling Helpline at 800.270.7117 or text 248.648.3363. For more information, go to michiganlottery.com .

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