Livingston County man had ‘hard time believing’ he won $250K Michigan Lottery prize

LIVINGSTON COUNTY, Mich. – A Livingston County man said he “had a hard time believing it” when he found out he won a $250,000 second chance jackpot from the Michigan Lottery.

Christopher Cassel, of Fowlerville, won $250,299, in the BIG CA$H second chance drawing on April 10. He earned entries into the giveaway by playing the BIG CA$H Second Chance Jackpot games online at MichiganLottery.com.

“I knew I was earning second chance entries by playing certain online games, but I didn’t think much of it,” Cassel said. “I came across an email from the Michigan Lottery informing me I’d won a $250,299 second chance jackpot, and I immediately thought it was a scam. After calling the Lottery I found out it was real, but I still had a hard time believing it.”

Cassel recently visited lottery headquarters to claim his prize. He said he plans on buying a home and a new truck.

“Winning is very exciting, although I don’t think the reality of it hasn’t fully sunk in yet,” Cassel said.

What is the BIG CA$H Second Chance game?

Some online instant games include a second chance progressive jackpot drawing. Part of every purchase of the games funds one progressive jackpot prize, which is awarded in a second chance drawing each month.

Players earn one entry for every 50 cents they bet playing eligible games. After the entry period closes, a random drawing takes place with one jackpot winner selected from all entries for that month.

The BIG CA$H Second Chance game launched in April 2022. Since the BIG CA$H Second Chance games launched, players have won more than $7.5 million in progressive prizes.

Entries are only valid for the entry period in which they were earned. Each month, a new drawing period begins, and the progressive jackpot is reset to $5,000. The next drawing will take place May 8.