Last-minute changes to her vacation plans resulted in a Michigan woman winning $500,000 from a Detroit Lions instant scratch-off ticket last week.
Traci Verbowski, of Kawkawlin, won the top prize playing the lottery’s football-themed instant game on Sept. 25, the Michigan Lottery announced in a news release. The winning ticket was purchased at a 7-Eleven store on 4300 Wilder Road in Bay City, lottery officials said.
Verbowski, 50, was planning to go on vacation with her family but ultimately decided to stay home and go out for dinner instead, she told lottery officials.
“After dinner, I remembered I had a few Detroit Lions winning tickets, so I stopped to cash them and purchased some more. I put the tickets in my purse until I got home later that night,” she explained. “When I scratched one of the tickets and saw I won $500,000, I yelled: ‘I think I just won a lot of money!’ I showed my family the ticket and no one could believe what they were seeing.”
Since winning the prize, Verbowski said she had not slept a full night’s sleep due to her excitement about claiming her prize.
“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 visited the Michigan Lottery headquarters in Lansing to claim her prize. She told lottery officials that she plans to buy a boat and save the rest of the money.
Over $5 Million Claimed to Date
As the Detroit Lions go into their bye week following their win against the Seattle Seahawks on Monday, Verbowski, a long-time Lions fan, can celebrate both her win and her team’s recent success before they go up against the Dallas Cowboys next week.
“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.
According to the Michigan Lottery, each $5 ticket gives players a chance to win prizes ranging from $5 to $500,000. Since the Detroit Lions instant game launched in September, players have won over $5 million. More than $21 million in prizes remain, including two $500,000 prizes and eight $2,000 prizes.
“Congratulations to Traci and her family on their huge $500,000 win playing the Detroit Lions instant game,” said Suzanna Shkreli, Michigan’s Lottery commissioner, in the press release. “The excitement for the Lottery’s Detroit Lions-themed instant games can be felt all over Michigan and there are still two top prizes out there waiting to be won! Go Lions!”
Responsible Gaming Education Month
The Michigan Lottery recognized Responsible Gaming Education Month in September, which highlights the availability of gambling prevention, treatment, and recovery services in the state.
According to a news release, Michigan Lottery issues $1 million to the compulsive gaming prevention fund, which the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services uses to fund statewide education and treatment programs for problem gambling.
The lottery commission reminded players that a variety of tools and resources are available to keep players safe, and encourages anyone seeking help to contact the National Problem Gambling Helpline.
“Lottery retailers have access to information on responsible gaming that can be shared with those who purchase Lottery products. Most importantly, free and confidential resources are available to anyone who feels they have a gambling problem by calling 1-800-GAMBLER,” said Shkreli.
More information can be found on the Michigan Lottery’s website.