Great Lakes Wire

A Sterling Heights resident, Tonya Hunwardsen, has won a $125,656 jackpot in the Michigan Lottery’s BIG CA$H Second Chance progressive drawing. Hunwardsen was selected in a random drawing held on July 8 after earning entries by playing eligible games online at MichiganLottery.com.

“Cash Vault is my favorite game to play online, and even when I don’t win playing the game, I’m happy to know I’m getting entries into the second chance,” Hunwardsen said. “I saw an email from the Lottery that said I’d won a $125,656 BIG CA$H jackpot prize, but I didn’t believe it was true until I received a call from the Lottery. As soon as I knew it was real, I told my dad and everyone else that I know!”

Hunwardsen claimed her prize at Lottery headquarters and plans to invest her winnings.

“I feel extremely lucky and like I’m living in a dream,” she said.

The BIG CA$H Second Chance game allows players to earn one entry for every $0.50 wagered on select instant games online. Each month, all entries go into a random drawing for a progressive jackpot prize funded by part of each purchase. After each entry period ends, the jackpot is awarded to one winner drawn from that month's entries.

The BIG CA$H Second Chance game began in April 2022. Since its launch, players have collectively won $9.8 million in progressive prizes. In the past year alone, monthly jackpots have ranged from over $108,000 to more than $205,000.

Entries are valid only for the month they are earned; each new month starts with a fresh entry period and resets the progressive jackpot to $5,000. The next drawing is scheduled for August 12.

For details about eligible games and how to participate in future drawings, visit https://news.michiganlottery.com/bigcash.