MI Man Wins $2M On Scratch-Off Ticket

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MI — A St. Joseph County man is looking forward to an early retirement after winning $2 million on a scratch-off ticket, according to Michigan Lottery officials.

The lucky 66-year-old player bought his winning ticket at Lightning Quick Gas N Go #11, located at 1560 East Chicago Road in Sturgis, lottery officials said.

"I typically only play $5 and $10 tickets, but $2,000,000 Lucky was one of the newer games at the store I usually go to, so I gave it a try," the man told lottery officials. "Game five was the last part of the ticket I scratched, so when I revealed the first ‘$2MIL’ symbol I thought: ‘Well this ticket is a loser,’ because I never thought I’d actually win the $2 million top prize."

After scratching the second ‘$2MIL’ symbol, he said he went back into the store and had the worker scan it.

"He handed me a slip that said to file a claim at the Lottery office and that’s when I knew I just won $2 million," the man told lottery officials.

He chose to receive his prize as a one-time lump sum payment of about $1.3 million, rather than annuity payments for the full amount, lottery officials said.

With his winnings, he plans to travel and retire early, lottery officials said.