News writer, Interviewer
​​A Chicago man, known only as "Big Money D," recently experienced a heartwarming turn of fate. He won a $650,000 Lucky Day Lotto jackpot prize, a win he credits to his late wife.
He said:
I typically play Pick 4, but that day, I noticed the Lucky Day Lotto jackpot was pretty high, so I decided to switch it up and try something new. I picked numbers related to my late wife – when I won, it felt like it was a message from her.
The numbers Big Money D selected were 9-11-12-13-17.
This touching tribute to his wife highlights the emotional power of lottery wins, often bringing joy and hope to winners and their loved ones.
In addition to the player's win, the Mariano's on North Sheridan Road in Chicago will receive a $6,500 bonus for selling the winning ticket.
Over 27,600 Lucky Day Lotto tickets were winners in the Saturday, November 16 evening drawing, awarding Illinois Lottery players more than $724,000 in total prizes.
A serendipitous grocery run leads to a million-dollar win
Another lucky Illinois resident had an equally fortuitous experience. While on a routine grocery run at Jewel-Osco in Elmhurst, they purchased a quick-pick Lucky Day Lotto ticket. Little did they know this seemingly ordinary act would change their life forever.
The anonymous winner recounted:
While on my way to visit my aunt, I made a quick stop at Jewel to pick up a few groceries, and before heading out the door, I grabbed a quick pick Lucky Day Lotto ticket. I actually put the ticket in my purse and forgot all about it.
Days later, a casual check of the ticket revealed a stunning surprise: a $1 million jackpot win.
They exclaimed:
A couple of days after the drawing, I saw the ticket in my purse and opened my lottery app to scan my ticket and check if it was a winner. I immediately saw '$1,000,000' on the screen, and I was in total shock. I scanned the ticket one more time to double-check, and when it showed '$1,000,000' again, I instantly started crying. I thought, 'This is unbelievable.'
The winner plans to use their newfound wealth to fulfill a long-held dream: annual trips to Ireland. "The landscape is stunning, and I'm thrilled that I can now look forward to these trips every year," they shared.
A streak of lucky wins
These recent jackpot wins are part of a broader trend of lucky Illinoisans. In 2024 alone, nine players have won $1 million or more playing Lucky Day Lotto. Some of the notable wins include:
- A $1.45 million jackpot won on September 22, with the winning ticket purchased at Lee Street BP in Des Plaines.
- A $1.1 million jackpot won on September 8, with the winning ticket purchased at Miskas Liquor in Chicago.
- A $1.3 million jackpot won on August 17, with the winning ticket purchased at Shop & Save Market in Chicago.
How to play Lucky Day Lotto
Ready to try your luck? Lucky Day Lotto is an Illinois-only game with twice-daily drawings at 12:40 p.m. and 9:22 p.m. CT. Tickets can be purchased at retail locations, online, or through the Illinois Lottery app.
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