LANSING, February 11, 2008 - He was understandably nervous once he realized his Mega Millions ticket was worth a quarter of a million dollars!

James Penman of Clinton Township thought he had a $150 winning ticket until the clerk who checked the ticket started screaming- he had actually won much more. He matched all five white ball numbers, without matching the Mega ball in the Feb. 8 drawing.

Penman purchased the winning easy pick ticket at McKenny's Irish Pub, 40000 Garfield, in Clinton Township.

He has played the Lottery for about 10 years and plans to use his prize money to pay for a new kitchen and invest for retirement.

Mega Millions is a multi-state lottery game in Michigan, California, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Virginia and Washington. Wagers cost $1 each and tickets may be purchased at nearly 11,000 Michigan Lottery retailers statewide.

Over 95 cents of every dollar spent on Lottery tickets is returned to the state in the form of contributions to the state School Aid Fund, prizes to players and commissions to retailers. In fiscal year 2007, the contribution to schools was $748.9 million. Since its inception in 1972, the Lottery has contributed more than $14.3 billion to education in Michigan.

For additional information, please visit the Lottery's Web site at www.michigan.gov/lottery.

# # #