Anna Marquez from Bay City has turned a casual gamble into a life-changing event, winning $1 million in the Mega Millions lottery. The 31-year-old matched five white balls in the March 5 drawing, securing the hefty sum online at MichiganLottery.com. "I play Mega Millions here and there, usually when the jackpot starts getting large," Marquez said in a statement obtained by Patch. Her initial disbelief led her to think the winnings were a hoax. "Honestly, I thought it was scam at first because you just don’t think this type of thing will happen to you," she recalled.

Shock overtook Marquez upon discovering the pending prize amount in her lottery account. According to an interview with FOX 2 Detroit, it wasn't until she checked her email and found a confirmation from the Lottery that the win started to feel real. Her unexpected windfall comes with a practical blueprint; Marquez plans to purchase a new home and pay off existing bills. Winning numbers for that fateful draw were 02-49-50-61-70, setting Marquez on the path to newfound financial stability.

Marquez's win breaks a common stereotype that such life-changing moments are reserved for others, not ourselves—a mindset she once harbored. After the reality of her newfound wealth sunk in, she outlined a plan to ensure future security. "I checked my email and saw one from the Lottery with information on claiming a prize, so that’s when I knew it was real!" Marquez told Patch, revealing her subsequent steps after the initial shock wore off.

The Michigan native did not delay in claiming her winnings, recently visiting Lottery headquarters to secure them. When buying her ticket, Marquez had the stroke of luck one typically writes off as a mere daydream. "I logged in the day after the drawing and was shocked when I saw a big amount pending in my account!" she explained to ClickOnDetroit. Planning beyond the immediate, she is set to save what remains after dealing with more pressing fiscal responsibilities.