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Michigan player wins $500,000 on an instant ticket

Congratulations, Ghostbusters instant winner!

Winning Michigan Lottery Ghostbusters scratch-off.
Winning Michigan Lottery Ghostbusters scratch-off. Photograph credit to the Michigan Lottery.
Corinna Underwood

A woman from Allegan County has won $500,000 playing the Michigan Lottery's Ghostbusters instant-win game.

In an interview with the Michigan Lottery, she said she thought she was going to have a heart attack. The 64-year-old player, who decided to remain anonymous, purchased her winning ticket from the Marathon gas station, located at 665 Allegan Street in Plainwell.

She has been playing the Ghostbusters scratch-off ticket since its launch in September 2023. She said:

When I went into the gas station to buy a ticket on my way to work, the clerk and I were talking about retirement. When she handed me the ticket, she said: “Well, I hope this ticket helps with saving for retirement!”

The player scratched her ticket during her lunch break and initially thought that she'd won $500. But one of her co-workers told her to take another look at the ticket. The player said:

When I saw it was actually $500,000, I felt like I was going to have a heart attack!

The lucky lady traveled to the Lottery headquarters to collect her prize. She plans to use her winnings to pay off her mortgage, pay some bills and save the rest.

How to play the Ghostbusters instant-win game

This is a $5 scratch-off ticket with a top prize of $500,000. To play, remove the five dollar symbols to reveal the winning numbers. Then, remove the 12 Ghostbuster symbols to reveal your numbers. If any of your numbers match the winning numbers, you win the prize amount shown by that number. Next, scratch off the three bonus areas. If you get an ECTO-1 symbol, you win the prize shown instantly. If you reveal a 25 symbol, you win $25 instantly. Get a 50 symbol and win $50 instantly. The prize range for this game is $5, $10, $25, $50, $100, $500, $2,500, $10,000, and $500,000. To date, there is one jackpot prize of $500,000 remaining.

Michigan Lottery promotions

Don't forget to check out these ongoing promotions from the Michigan Lottery:

Big Cash Second Chance Jackpot

Between now and February 29, every 0.50 cents you wager on the following games will gain you one entry into the monthly Big Cash 2nd Chance Jackpot:

  • Hot 7s
  • Triple Eagle Bonus
  • Cash Vault
  • Big Cash Catch
  • Viva Las Jackpots
  • Michigan Multiplier Wilds
  • Lucky Start
  • Mystery Vault
  • Monthly Jackpot

Let's Play Giveaway

Play the following games online or scan in-store tickets to enter for a chance to win $5,000 cash or $100 in online credit each month.

Play to enter:

  • Love That Loot
  • Lovestruck
  • Confection Combos
  • Instant Football Playout

Scan to enter:

  • Powerball
  • Mega Millions
  • Fantasy 5
  • $500,000 Cash Multiplier
  • $1,000,000 Cash Multiplier
  • $4,000,000 Winner
  • Lotto 47
  • Lucky For Life

Enjoy playing the Michigan lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.

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