Change of Plans Leads Michigan Woman to $500K Instant Lottery Win

They say life can change in an instant. A Bay County woman proved that old adage true when a change of plans led her to win a half million dollars on an instant ticket from the Michigan Lottery.

Traci Verbowski of Kawkawlin (pictured, center above) won $500,000 playing the Michigan Lottery's new Detroit Lions instant game.

Change in Plans Leads Bay County Woman to Big Lottery Win

Verbowski says she had her heart set on a vacation a few weeks ago, but wound up staying home and just going out to dinner instead. But staying close to home put her in the right place at the right time.

"After [going out to] dinner, I remembered I had a few Detroit Lions winning tickets, so I stopped to cash them and purchased some more. I put the tickets in my purse until I got home later that night," Verbowski tells the Michigan Lottery. "When I scratched one of the tickets and I saw I won $500,000, I yelled 'I think I just won a lot of money!' I showed my family the ticket and no one could believe what they were seeing."

Traci purchased her winning ticket at the 7-Eleven on Wilder Rd. in Bay City.

"I'm so glad we ended up not going on vacation that weekend, because if we did, I wouldn't be here claiming $500,000!"

Detroit Lions Instant Ticket is a Big Hit

Verbowski says she's always been a fan of the Detroit Lions, so winning on the Lions instant ticket is especially exciting. She plans to use her winnings to buy a boat and then save the rest.