An Illinois man’s life changed after he went on his work break - and came back a millionaire.
The lottery player went into a gas station in Lombard, DuPage County earlier this month as usual and bought two tickets, one of which turned out to be a winner.
“I scratched off the ticket during a break at work and boom – I won,” the unnamed winner, who has been referred to only as “Lucky,” said.
“I just celebrated my birthday a few weeks ago, so this win feels like the perfect gift,. It’s especially exciting since I bought the ticket at a store I visit regularly.”
Lucky said that he plans to use the money to buy a new home, refresh his wardrobe and invest in his family’s future. He claimed his big win from a $50 ticket on April 10, an Illinois spokesperson told USA Today.
Initially, Lucky bought one ticket, which was not a winner, and decided to buy another from the same Mobil gas station. That second ticket led him to win his $1 million prize.
“I come to this store often, and I’m close friends with the staff here,” he said. “They were thrilled when I shared the good news with them.
“When I bought the ticket, I told them I was coming back with a lot of zeros,” Lucky continued. “I can’t believe it actually happened.”
With his win, the Mobil gas station will receive a retailer bonus of 1 percent of the total prize amount. That means the station will be given $10,000.
However, this is not Lucky’s first big win when playing the lottery. He said in the press release that he has won around 20 times, taking home prizes valued between $1,000 and $5,000.
Gambling winnings are classified as taxable income under federal income tax laws. That means winnings made in Illinois are subject to a 4.95 percent income tax rate, according to the Illinois Department of Revenue.
The Illinois Lottery, which was founded in 1974, offers a range of Instant Ticket games. Each game is priced from $1 to $50.
Players who win more than $250,000 may choose to keep their name and municipality of residence confidential, according to the Illinois Lottery website.
According to the lottery’s website, the organization has contributed over $26 billion to the State’s Common School Fund.
With mass evacuation warnings, Israel upends lives and reshapes south Lebanon
The Bank of England is expected to keep interest rates on hold as it weighs the impact of Iran war
Inquiry into antisemitic attack that left 15 dead in Sydney recommends gun reform
Countries end Colombia fossil fuel summit with focus on next steps and financing
NYC mayor Mamdani raises King Charles returning crown jewel to India
Pete Hegseth lost his cool in front of Congress. It was a dramatic unraveling
