An Oakland County, Michigan, man says he spent months avoiding a Detroit Lions-themed lottery game because it never seemed to bring him any luck. Then one forgotten request at a gas station led to a $1.05 million jackpot and a life-changing surprise.
According to the Michigan Lottery and local media outlets, the 68-year-old winner claimed a $1.05 million progressive jackpot prize in June 2026, after playing the Detroit Lions Rush For Riches Fast Cash game. The man, who chose to remain anonymous, purchased the winning ticket at a Speedway gas station in South Lyon, about 40 miles northwest of downtown Detroit.
Meanwhile, the winner told Michigan Lottery officials that he buys Fast Cash tickets when the progressive jackpot climbs above $700,000. He also said he had developed a habit of avoiding Detroit Lions Rush For Riches tickets because he had not experienced much success with that particular game.
His luck changed
According to the Michigan Lottery, he regularly asked cashiers to print any Fast Cash game except the $10 Lions-themed option. This time, however, the Oakland County man forgot to give his usual instruction. “I hadn’t been having luck with it. I forgot to tell the cashier that this time, and the Detroit Lions game is what he printed for me,” the winner said in comments released by the Michigan Lottery.
Rather than exchange the ticket, he folded it up and put it away. He did not check it until the following morning. That decision set the stage for an emotional discovery.
“The next morning, when I looked over the ticket and saw I’d won the jackpot, I stopped my wife as she was walking by, handed her the ticket, and said: ‘You’re not going to believe this!’” the winner told Michigan Lottery officials. “Once she saw what I’d won, she started crying.”
He added, “It was an exciting and emotional day for us. All I’ve been thinking since winning is how glad I am that I forgot to tell the cashier not to give me the Detroit Lions game!”
Michigan Lottery officials identified the winner only as a 68-year-old Oakland County resident. The agency did not release his name. After verifying the ticket, the man visited Michigan Lottery headquarters to claim his prize. As for his plans, he kept them simple: He intends to use the money to care for his family.
Detroit Lions Rush For Riches is part of the Michigan Lottery’s Fast Cash lineup. Fast Cash games offer instant-win tickets sold through lottery terminals, and qualifying tickets contribute to a shared progressive jackpot that continues to grow until someone wins it. The jackpot amount prints directly on tickets at the time of purchase.
Published: Jun 23, 2026 04:19 pm