A 41-year-old woman from Michigan has emerged as the first grand prize winner in the state's Halloween-themed instant game, Ghostbusters, taking home an impressive $500,000.
Her life-changing win came after she purchased the $5 winning ticket at the Special Way Food Store on 378 West Huron Street in Pontiac. Choosing to remain anonymous, she shared her excitement with the Michigan Lottery, recounting her disbelief and elation upon discovering her win.
"I don't play instant tickets often, but I saw the Ghostbusters ticket while I was at the store and thought: 'Why not?'" the thrilled woman expressed. "When I scratched the ticket and saw I'd won $500,000, I read the directions over and over again and looked the ticket over for at least an hour."
Overwhelmed with joy, the winner wasted no time. She drove to her local lottery office to verify her ticket, where the lottery employee confirmed her good fortune and advised her to visit the lottery headquarters in Lansing.
Now, with her winnings secured, the 41-year-old intends to use the prize money to support her family, settle outstanding bills, and boost her savings. She views her win as the beginning of a brighter future for herself and her loved ones.
The Michigan Lottery revealed that instant game enthusiasts celebrated enormous wins, amassing over $1.7 billion in winnings throughout 2022.
The Ghostbusters instant game, launched by the Michigan Lottery in September, has been a hit among players, rewarding them with more than $4 million in prizes. With a $5 ticket, players have a chance to win anywhere from $5 to the grand prize of $500,000.
Ghostbusters offers favorable odds, with a 1 in 4.04 chance of winning a prize. The game still boasts more than $26 million in prizes up for grabs, including two grand prizes of $500,000, five $10,000 prizes, and 26 $2,500 prizes.
For those interested in participating, lottery tickets can be conveniently purchased in-person at various locations, such as gas stations, convenience stores, grocery stores, and possibly even some airport terminals. Additionally, online ticket orders are possible through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. This service is available in multiple U.S. states, providing an easy and convenient way to purchase tickets and collect winnings via mobile devices or computers. Photo by Onurasillsoy, Wikimedia commons.