News writer
On October 11, 2023, an anonymous Kalamazoo County lottery player got a big surprise when he won $416,322 in the Michigan Lottery’s BIG CA$H Second Chance giveaway, a random drawing that he had no idea he had entered.
The 67-year-old had unknowingly earned entries into the giveaway by playing eligible Michigan Lottery games online. After visiting Michigan Lottery headquarters to claim his jackpot, he plans to share his winnings with his family and put the remainder into a savings account.
In an interview with the Michigan Lottery Association, the player said:
“I play games online a lot, but I had no idea I was earning entries into a second chance giveaway when playing certain games. I saw an email from the Michigan Lottery saying I’d won a $416,322 second chance prize and I figured it was a scam email since I didn’t enter a giveaway.”
Fortunately for the lucky player, it was not a scam. The BIG CA$H Second Chance game was launched in April 2022. It was formerly known as the "Monthly Second Chance Progressive Jackpot." A percentage of every wager in select Michigan lottery games finds the Second Chance jackpot prize. Every $0.50 a player wagers earns them one entry into the monthly BIG CA$H Second Chance drawing for that month. A new drawing period begins each month and the progressive Second Chance Jackpot Prize is reset to its starting value of $5,000.
Since the Second Chance game was launched, lucky players have claimed more than $5.9 million in progressive prizes. In 2023 alone, players have won the following prizes:
- September 2023 - $416,322
- August 2023 - $729,743
- July 2023 - $573,617
- June 2023 - $519,212
- May 2023 - $559,200
- April 2023 - $538,958
- March 2023 - $625,162
- February 2023 - $261,935
- January 2023 - $403,618
Other Michigan Second Chance games
There are other Second Change game options for Michigan lottery players. These are online games where players have an opportunity to win in-store coupons or entries into weekly drawings for $100 in instant game tickets. Currently available Second Chance games include Wild Time, Colossal Cashword, and Bingo.
If you want to submit your tickets for a second chance at winning, you will need to sign up on the official Michigan Lottery website. Once you have a membership, you can enter your non-winning ticket numbers for a second chance to win.
If you’re a Michigan lottery player, even if you don’t win the first time, don’t forget, you often have a second chance.
