A Michigan man won two Fantasy 5 Double Play jackpots during a vacation in Northern Michigan. He forgot he had already bought a ticket. So he bought another. Both tickets hit.
The winner, a resident of Pinckney, was vacationing in Northern Michigan when he purchased the first Fantasy 5 Double Play ticket. Later, unable to recall the purchase, he bought a second ticket for the same drawing. Both tickets matched all five numbers.
The player told Michigan Lottery officials he was in “complete shock” when he checked the results. “I couldn’t believe it,” he said in a statement released by MLive. “I had to check three times.”
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Game | Fantasy 5 Double Play |
| Winning Tickets | 2 |
| Total Prize | $X (exact amount not disclosed, typical jackpot ~$100k per ticket) |
| Odds (single jackpot) | 1 in 376,992 |
| Odds (two tickets, separate purchases) | ~1 in 142 billion |
The Fantasy 5 Double Play game requires players to pick five numbers from 1 to 39. Drawings occur daily. A single jackpot win is rare. Winning two with separately purchased tickets is statistically improbable.
The winner claimed his prize at Michigan Lottery headquarters. After federal (24%) and state (4.25%) taxes, the net amount is approximately 71.75% of the gross. He has not publicly detailed his plans, but typical winners cite family and retirement.
Lottery experts note that buying multiple tickets does increase odds, but only marginally. The “forget and rebuy” phenomenon highlights a common player behavior. The Michigan Lottery app allows players to scan tickets instantly.
The story went viral on Reddit and Twitter. Local news comments were filled with disbelief and jokes about forgetfulness. The headline “Pinckney Man Wins Two Fantasy 5 Double Play Prizes” trended in local search.
This event underscores a core reality of the Michigan lottery: luck can strike twice. Check your tickets. Always.
💡 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: How did a Michigan man win two lottery jackpots on the same drawing?
- A: He forgot he had already bought a Fantasy 5 Double Play ticket while on vacation, so he purchased a second ticket. Both tickets matched all five numbers, resulting in two jackpot wins.
- Q: What are the odds of winning two Fantasy 5 Double Play jackpots with separate tickets?
- A: The odds of winning a single Fantasy 5 Double Play jackpot are 1 in 376,992. Winning two jackpots with separately purchased tickets is roughly 1 in 142 billion.
- Q: How much did the Michigan lottery winner take home after taxes?
- A: After federal (24%) and state (4.25%) taxes, the net amount is approximately 71.75% of the gross prize. The exact jackpot amount was not disclosed, but typical prizes are around $100,000 per ticket.
Extended Reading
For further details on this story, refer to reporting from WHMI 93.5, MLive, and GamblingNews. These sources confirmed the winner’s identity, the sequence of events, and the prize claim process.