LANSING, June 2, 2008 - When Nicholas Vaiyanet of Lincoln Park looked for the May 16 Mega Millions drawing results on the Lottery's Web site, he was "shocked" to find out he won $10,000! The police officer matched four white ball numbers and the gold Mega ball to win the prize.

The 29-year-old is a regular Lottery player who hid the easy pick ticket in his wallet prior to cashing in at the Lottery's Dearborn Heights office. He plans to pay his car off with the prize money.

Vaiyanet purchased the winning ticket at Freeway Liquor, 2568 Dix Hwy., in Lincoln Park.

Mega Millions is a multi-state lottery game in Michigan, California, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Virginia and Washington. Wagers cost $1 each and tickets may be purchased at nearly 11,000 Michigan Lottery retailers statewide.

Over 95 cents of every dollar spent on Lottery tickets is returned to the state in the form of contributions to the state School Aid Fund, prizes to players and commissions to retailers. In fiscal year 2007, the contribution to schools was $748.9 million. Since its inception in 1972, the Lottery has contributed more than $14.3 billion to education in Michigan.

For additional information, please visit the Lottery's Web site at www.michigan.gov/lottery.

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