Residents and passersby of Chicago's Northwest Side might feel a bit more hopeful when they walk into the 7-Eleven at 5037 W. Lawrence Ave. As reported by FOX 32 Chicago, the convenience store sold a Lotto ticket that hit a $1 million jackpot in Monday's drawing. Matching the Lotto Million 1 game's winning numbers, 7, 20, 24, 27, 35, and 39, the winner joins a growing list of newly minted millionaires courtesy of the Illinois lottery this year.
This reinforcing piece of news comes on the heels of another announcement from CBS News Chicago that emphasized this particular win as the 14th instance in Illinois this year where a player has won a million dollars or more from the Lotto game. The store itself will taste a slice of fortune, receiving a $10,000 bonus, which is one-percent of the prize for selling the jackpot ticket.
While the identity of the new millionaire remains a mystery, they have one full year from the draw date to claim their life-changing prize, according to lottery officials. They advise that the winner should sign the back of their ticket and protect it until it can be officially redeemed. Meanwhile, the community buzzes with a mix of envy and excitement, circumspect conversations about the nature of luck, and quiet aspirations of one day striking it rich themselves.
The Illinois Lottery offers Lotto drawings three times a week, providing more chances for others to experience their moment of unprecedented financial turnaround. Besides Lotto, players can try their hand at Lotto Million 1 and Lotto Million 2 – both promising the same $1 million reward for matching six numbers. Tickets can be purchased in various avenues including stores, online, or through the official Illinois Lottery app, allowing accessibility to all hoping to have their lives transformed by the simple purchase of a lottery ticket.
