Mich. Man Wins $400,000 Lottery Prize After Unknowingly Entering State’s 2nd Chance Jackpot

The 67-year-old Kalamazoo County resident recently hit the jackpot — and he initially thought it was a scam

An unsuspecting Michigan man who won more than $400,000 in a lottery drawing thought it was a joke when he found out he hit the jackpot.

“I play games online a lot, but I had no idea I was earning entries into a second chance giveaway when playing certain games,” the 67-year-old man, who asked to remain anonymous, told Michigan Lottery officials. “I saw an email from the Michigan Lottery saying I’d won a $416,322 second chance prize and I figured it was a scam email since I didn’t enter a giveaway.”

But the Kalamazoo County man really was the winner of the BIG CA$H Second Chance game following the Oct. 11 random drawing, according to the Michigan Lottery.

The lucky winner recently claimed his prize at lottery headquarters, officials said.

Related: Woman Wins $25,000 a Year for Life on First Try of Lottery Game: 'It’s Enough Money to Change My World'

Players earn one entry for every $0.50 wagered playing the eligible games, according to the Michigan Lottery. After the entry period closes, the random drawing takes place with one jackpot winner being selected from all entries for that month.

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The second-chance game launched in April 2022, and since then, nearly $6 million has been won in progressive prizes, the lottery said.

Related: Michigan Man Wins His Second Big Lottery Prize in 10 Years: 'It’s Hard to Believe'

For the most-recent winner of the game, it all culminated in a surreal moment.

“When I called the Michigan Lottery, I realized I’d been earning entries without even knowing it,” he said. “I still can’t believe this is real. It is a crazy feeling to win such a large lottery prize.”

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