Two coworkers from Ashton, Ill., who thought they'd scored a modest $350 on a Lucky Day Lotto pick, were floored to discover their ticket was actually worth $350,000 when they checked the Lottery app. Randy and April say they'll split the windfall and plan to put their shares toward property purchases and retirement savings.
From Pocket Change to Six Figures
Randy told reporters he stopped at a Jewel-Osco in West Chicago on Jan. 7 while taking his wife to a doctor's appointment and bought a Lucky Day Lotto ticket; the app later showed the ticket matched a jackpot, according to NBC Chicago. The pair, who live in Ashton in Lee County, initially thought they'd won only $350 before realizing the extra zeroes.
"We were in total disbelief," April said after seeing the app's total, and the two double-checked the result several times before celebrating, NBC Chicago reports. They told the station they plan to split the $350,000 and invest in property and retirement accounts.
Where the Winning Ticket Came From
Randy bought the ticket at the West Chicago Jewel-Osco on Roosevelt Road, the store's local page shows. The supermarket at 177 E. Roosevelt Rd. is one of the chain's locations that sell Lottery tickets, per Jewel-Osco.
How Lucky Day Lotto Works
Lucky Day Lotto is an Illinois-only draw game with two daily drawings and a minimum jackpot of $100,000; tickets can be purchased in-store, online, or through the Illinois Lottery app, according to the Illinois Lottery. The Lottery also notes that winners have up to a year from the drawing date to claim prizes.
Randy and April say they'll keep the celebration low-key as they sort out claims and next steps, and the win is already a major financial leap for both. Their story is a not-so-subtle reminder to check tickets and apps carefully; what looks like small change can sometimes turn out to be life-changing.
