Deciding to ditch a fun weekend trip does not always end in a lottery win, but this Michigan woman is thankful that she changed her itinerary which led to her top prize $500,000 win.
Traci Verbowski, a Kawkawlin resident, told the Michigan Lottery the events that led up to her last-minute plan to stay home.
“I really wanted to go on a vacation a few weekends ago, but we ended up staying home and went out to dinner that Saturday night instead,” she informed the lottery workers.
“After dinner, I recalled I had a couple Detroit Lions winning tickets, so I went to cash them and buy some more. I kept the tickets in my purse until I returned home later that night.
Kawkawlin is about 17 miles north of Saginaw, Michigan.
Verbowski, 50, purchased her $5 Detroit Lions scratch-off tickets from the 7-Eleven, located at 4300 Wilder Road in Bay City, the lottery said.
When I scratched one of the tickets and saw I won $500,000, I yelled ‘I think I just won a lot of money!” Verbowski said.
After showing the lucky ticket to her family, Verbowski told lottery officials that she had not gotten a full night of sleep after finding out about the win.
“I have been so anxious and excited to come claim my prize,” she told me. Verbowski doesn’t regret altering her mind about the weekend excursion.
“I’m so glad we ended up not going on vacation that weekend, because if we did, I wouldn’t be here claiming $500,000!” She said. Verbowski recently went to the Michigan Lottery headquarters to claim her top award.
She informed lottery authorities that she intends to buy a yacht and save the remainder of the money.
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Detroit Lions fan wins $500,000 on football-themed game
As football enters week five of games, this Detroit Lions fan can celebrate her and her team’s victories ahead of Super Bowl LIX.
“I have been a Detroit Lions fan my whole life, so it was extra exciting to win on the new Detroit Lions game!” she said
The football-themed scratch-off game was debuted in September, according to the lottery. “Congratulations to Traci and her family on their huge $500,000 win playing the Detroit Lions instant game,” Michigan Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli stated in a statement.
“The Lottery’s Detroit Lions-themed quick games are generating excitement throughout Michigan, and there are still two top prizes to be won! “Go, Lions!”
The lottery said that players have a chance to win prizes ranging from $5 up to $500,000.
The overall odds of winning the Detroit Lions game are 1 in 3.95, the lottery said.
