WASHINGTON, Nov 15, (Agencies): A Michigan man, initially considering it a prank, was stunned to discover he had won over $400,000 in a lottery drawing. The 67-year-old, who opted to remain anonymous, revealed his disbelief upon receiving an email from the Michigan Lottery notifying him of the $416,322 second chance prize.

Engaged in online gaming, he had unknowingly accumulated entries into the BIG CA$H Second Chance game while playing certain games. Skeptical of the email's legitimacy, he thought it was a scam since he hadn't intentionally entered any giveaway. However, the lottery officials confirmed that he was indeed the fortunate winner of the Oct 11 random drawing.

The Kalamazoo County resident claimed his substantial prize at the lottery headquarters after this unexpected revelation. Players accrue entries by wagering $0.50 on eligible games, and a monthly random drawing determines the jackpot winner.

The BIG CA$H Second Chance game, launched in April 2022, has awarded nearly $6 million in progressive prizes since its inception. For this recent winner, the realization of earning entries without awareness led to a surreal experience. "I still can't believe this is real. It is a crazy feeling to win such a large lottery prize," he expressed, reflecting on the unexpected turn of fortune.