Wayne County man wins $2 million in Michigan Lottery game

On By Littum

A Wayne County man won $2 million on his third try at a Colossal Cashword, Michigan Lottery Connect officials announced Monday.

The lucky 32-year-old player, who chose to remain anonymous, bought his winning ticket at the River Oaks Marathon in Dearborn Heights, officials said in a news release.

“I bought a Colossal Cashword ticket while at the gas station and won $30, so I used my winnings to buy another one,” the winner said in the statement. “The second ticket was a non-winner, so I decided to try one more. I bought a third ticket and scratched it at the store. When I revealed the seventh word, I assumed it was a $600 winning ticket, so i scanned it and got a message to file a claim at the lottery office.

“I took the ticket out to my car and gave it to my wife to scan on her Michigan Lottery app. When $2 million came up on the scanner, I started screaming. My wife tried to calm me down so people wouldn’t hear me, but I couldn’t contain my excitement!”

The player recently visited the lottery headquarters to claim the big win. He chose to receive his prize as a lump sum of about $1.3 million rather than annuity payments for the full amount. With his winnings, he plans to buy a house, buy a car and help his family.

“Playing Lottery Instant Games can change your life in an instant, just as this lucky new millionaire found out,” Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli said in a statement.

Players have won more than $65 million playing Colossal Cashword, which launched in September 2023. Each $20 ticket gives players a chance to win prizes from $20 up to $2 million. More than $52 million in prizes remain, including a $2 million top prize, 10 $10,000 prizes and 86 $5,000 prizes.

By 2023, lottery players won nearly $1.8 billion playing instant games.

Lottery instant games can be purchased at retailers across the state.

The Wayne County winner is the latest to post a six-figure windfall.

An Oakland County woman won $2 million from the Michigan Lottery’s Strike It Rich instant game.

Another Oakland County resident won $1 million from the lottery’s Million Dollar Madness instant game last month.

A Kalamazoo County woman also recently claimed a $2 million prize in October through the lottery’s Colossal Cashword instant game.

[email protected]

@_myeshajohnson