LANSING, December 21, 2005 – Five Michigan Lottery players are $2 million richer today after agreeing to share a prize awarded during the Detroit Pistons basketball game last night.

Daniel Jackson, 61, of Stigler, Oklahoma; Dan Lucas, 45, of St. Clair Shores; Sherwin Raminick, 48, of Southfield; Laurie Samuelson, 39, of Avoca; and Ryan Wirth, 20, of Mason, were the five finalists chosen to participate in the Lottery’s $20 Instant games grand prize drawing for $2 million on December 20.  The five players, who’d never met each other prior to the drawing, decided that no matter who won, they would form a Lottery club and share the prize with each other.  Prior to the drawing, the five signed a note indicating their intentions.

When the drawing was conducted, Jackson was the lucky winner.  He held true to his word and The Scratchers Lottery club picked up a check for $930,367 (post tax) in Lansing this morning.

Commissioner Gary Peters said this is the third time in the nine live drawings the Lottery has conducted that this has happened. 

“This is the latest Lottery trend for the live $2 million drawings,” Peters said.  “We’re thrilled that these fine people formed an instant bond they’ll have for life.”

As the player who was the actual winner of the $2 million, Jackson was the lucky winner of a trip for two to the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas.

Each winner has special plans for their money.  Jackson is buying a new set of dishes and investing in a pontoon boat.  Lucas plans to use his share of the prize money to pay a portion of his house, play Pebble Beach Golf Course and take a trip to Jamaica.  Raminick will pay his house off, purchase a new car and pay student loans his son acquired in college.  Stevenson is helping 20 children have a Merry Christmas.  Wirth is treating his mom to a cruise. 

The $20 Instant games are different from most other Michigan Lottery Instant games because the top prize will be awarded through a drawing.  All $1,000 winning tickets for “Double Millions”, “$2,000,000 Jackpot”, “Millions & Millions”, “$2,000,000 Mega Play”, “$2,000,000 Cash Casino” and “Wild Millions” that were claimed before the close of business on Wednesday, December 7 were automatically entered into the finalist drawing.

All proceeds from the Lottery are contributed to the state School Aid Fund which supports kindergarten through 12th grade public education in Michigan.  In fiscal year 2005, the contribution was $667.6 million.

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

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EDITOR'S NOTE: To access a photograph to use, go to http://www.michigan.gov/images/20051221-2000000Drawing-Large_145642_7.JPG

Finalists are pictured left to right: Daniel Jackson, Laurie Samuelson, Sherwin Raminick, Lottery Commissioner Gary Peters, Ryan Wirth, and Dan Lucas.

(Photo courtesy of Michigan Lottery, by www.domagalskiphotography.com)