A 46-year-old Van Buren County man says he had to "double, triple and quadruple" check a $5 Michigan Lottery scratch-off after realizing he had just won $300,000. The Safe Cracker Cashword ticket came from a convenience store in South Haven, and the stunned winner later claimed the prize at Michigan Lottery headquarters. Choosing to stay anonymous, he told officials his big move for now is the quiet one: he plans to save the money.
How He Realized The Win
The player said he regularly picks up a few Cashword tickets each week because he enjoys the game and finds it fun. This one got his attention fast. After scratching it off and spotting 10 completed words, he asked his wife to recount every word on the ticket to make sure he was not seeing things before he called Lottery officials to verify the payout, according to CBS Detroit. The outlet reports that the 10 words matched the game's top prize, and Lottery staff later processed the claim and confirmed the $300,000 win at their offices.
Where The Ticket Was Bought
The winning Safe Cracker Cashword ticket was sold at the Broadway Shell at 469 Broadway Street in South Haven, according to the Lottery's prize notice cited by OurMidland. After realizing what he was holding, the player made the trip to Lottery headquarters to claim the prize and told officials he plans to hang on to the cash rather than rush into any big purchases.
About The Safe Cracker Cashword Game
Michigan's $5 Safe Cracker Cashword instant game launched in December 2024 and has already paid out millions in prizes, with players winning more than $31 million on the game to date, according to CBS Detroit. Independent lottery trackers put the overall odds of a win at about 1 in 3.67 and list how many top-prize and smaller-prize tickets are still out there. Players curious about current odds and remaining prizes can find updated details at Scratchcards.net.
Other Recent $300,000 Winners
This is not the first time a Safe Cracker Cashword ticket has turned into a six-figure payday. Last May, a Lenawee County player claimed a separate $300,000 Safe Cracker Cashword prize, local coverage shows. That winner said he planned to invest his windfall after claiming it, according to ClickOnDetroit.
Responsible Play And Where To Get Help
For anyone feeling their lottery habit tilt from hobby to problem, state officials stress that help is available. The Michigan Gaming Control Board promotes the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER, as noted by the Michigan Gaming Control Board. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services also offers the Michigan Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-270-7117, which provides local support, referrals and more information on the state's responsible-gaming resources.
