A Clinton County woman won $1 million on Christmas on a Michigan Lottery instant game that she picked up while buying tickets as holiday gifts.
The woman, 66, who chose to remain anonymous, told the Michigan Lottery she bought several lottery tickets as Christmas gifts for family members — and then one Major Cashword ticket the she kept for herself.
On Christmas, she scratched the ticket and thought she had won $1,000, but when she scanned the ticket's barcode on the Michigan Lottery app, a $1 million prize appeared on her screen.
"I showed my husband and kids what I’d won and then immediately locked the ticket in the safe," she told the Michigan Lottery.
She couldn't believe her luck.
"I give Lottery tickets as gifts every year, and my dad has always said that one of these years someone is going to win big," she said. "I can’t believe it was me! I’m still in shock.”
She purchased her ticket at Ox's Smoked Meats located at 113 W. Main St. in Westphalia, which is about 25 miles northwest of Lansing.
She recently claimed her prize and opted to receive a one-time lump sum payment of about $634,000 instead of annuity payments for the full amount.
With the money, she plans to take a few trips and save the rest.
Major Cashword has three top prizes of $1,000,000. One of the top prizes remains unclaimed.
