South Carolina man wins $2M Michigan Lottery prize

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A man from South Carolina won $2 million playing a Michigan Lottery game.

Michael Buckner is from South Carolina, though he works in Escanaba in the Upper Peninsula. One day he was trying to decide between going to the casino or buying a lottery ticket, according to a Michigan Lottery release.

He ultimately decided to skip the casino, and bought a $20 Mega Multiplier scratch-off ticket at a gas station in Gladstone.

“When I scratched off the $2,000,000 Mega Multiplier game and saw I won $2 million, I didn’t think it was real. I called my girlfriend to tell her what I won, but she didn’t believe it either. It still hasn’t fully sunk in,” he said in the release.

The 58-year-old recently claimed his prize at the Michigan Lottery headquarters, opting for a one-time lump sum of $1.3 million. He plans to use the money to pay bills and will share some of the winnings with his family. He plans on saving the rest, he said.

The odds of winning the lottery are slim. For example, there’s 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.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the 24/7 National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1.800.GAMBLER or text 800GAM. For more information, go to michiganlottery.com.

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