Rounding off October with more beginner's luck
By Kate Northrop
A Michigan woman is proving that it's worth trying new things after winning a $25,000 a year for life Lucky for Life prize while playing the lottery game for the first time.
A Michigan lottery player has a Disney trip in her sights after her first-ever Lucky for Life ticket purchase netted her a $25,000 a year for life prize.
Warren resident Shayla Kauflin, 39, buys her Michigan Lottery tickets online, but this time, she decided she wanted to try something new.
"This ticket was the very first Lucky for Life ticket I have ever bought," Kauflin told the Lottery. "When I was purchasing my Powerball tickets online, I saw the Lucky for Life game listed and thought: 'Why not?' and bought $10 worth of tickets."
While Kauflin slept, little did she know that there was a notification waiting for her the next day, which would eventually alert her that she had had matched all five white balls drawn on Oct. 9th: 9, 13, 17, 30, and 38.
"I logged in to my Lottery account the next day to see if I'd won anything, and when I saw $390,000 pending, I started screaming, crying, and freaking out!" the lucky winner recalled. "I called my husband to tell him how much I'd won, and he was concerned at first because he thought something was wrong."
Her husband, David, learned that it was not a cause for concern at all, rather a cause for celebration. He joined his wife when she went to go collect her prize at Lottery headquarters in Lansing.
Kauflin had the option of claiming the prize as an annuity of $25,000 a year for 20 years or for life, whichever is greater, or a $390,000 one-time lump sum payment. She chose the lump sum prize and plans on using the winnings to take her family on a trip to Disney. She'll also invest some of the prize money.
"Winning is indescribable!" she related. "It feels like the weight of the world has been taken off my shoulders. It may not be enough money to change the world, but it's enough money to change my world!"
The odds of winning the second-tier Lucky for Life prize of $25,000 a year for life are 1 in 1,813,028.
Lucky for Life drawings take place every day at 10:38 pm EST. Tickets cost $2 each. All winning numbers, odds, and prize amounts can be found on Lottery Post's Multi-State Lottery Results page.
Congratulations to her. would love to know the secret of first time players hitting it big!
Congratulations Shayla for the win.
I hope my day comes when I win big.
But for now, am on the side that gets to congratulate the winners.
Onward we march, one ticket at a time 😁
DESTINY
I live at a 55+ park with a loads of folks that come to Lakeland,florida for the winter from Michigan . I almost played lucky for life today for the 1st time...it could have been me? I wonder if I know her, and if I do, I hope we're friends-LoL.. Good for her. I play fantasy (pick 5 #s out of 36#- which is the 2nd best odds game in USA , #1 Is in Massachusetts- 5#s out of 35.. 3rd-New Hampshire-5 #s out of 39. I've played the same #s for 40 yrs and I played the day but not the Eve and it came in 4 out of 5 & paid $555.00. I was so excited until I realized I didn't play for the Eve. Very upsetting. Boy, the lottery is getting rich having day & evenings on all the games. I still play F-5 & also the 2#w/fireball but it's a lot less money to be had for double the price but I at least win a couple times or more a week & that's the thrill of the game no matter how little I get back, I at least get to keep playing especially at the end of the month.. Well ..., Break a leg ( showbiz lingo for" good luck" ) to all of you number fans !!!
Congrats Shayla, enjoy every minute.
That is the worst feeling when your #'s come in and you didn't play. many years ago driving home from a 12 hour there it was in front of me--018, first three of my SSAN. Had warm fuzzies, did not play and it came in.
Loved your comment on lottery getting rich having multiple drawings daily. Imagine living in TX where pick 3 & 4 and drawn four times/day with the exception of Sundays. Gotta keep those Bible thumpers happy and no gambling that day.
OTOH CA had one five # match on PB. I guess $207 thousand is BETTOR (sic) than nothing!
I used to live in Texas. A fine state alright, with a middle name of BIBLE.
Beginners Luck.