Illinois Lottery Player Wins $2 Million On A Scratch-Off Ticket, Declares Gas Station Owner Is His ‘Lucky Charm’
CHICAGO, March 16, 2024 – Horseshoes and four-leaf clovers have nothing on the owner of a Shell gas station in Harwood Heights. That’s because one lucky lottery player declares that the owner of the gas station is his ‘lucky charm’ after winning $2 million on a scratch-off lottery ticket.
“Admittedly, I like to think I’m a pretty lucky person,” joked the winner, who has requested to stay anonymous. “I’ve won things here and there – but never a prize as incredible as this!”
The $2 million winning scratch-off ticket was purchased at Shell, located at 4555 North Nagle Ave. in Harwood Heights, near the northwest Chicago suburbs.
“As it turns out, I think the owner of the Shell station might just be my lucky charm,” the winner added. “He seems to have sold a number of winning lottery tickets over the years – good thing I stopped at that Shell to buy my ticket!”
The lucky winner stopped into the Harwood Heights Shell on his way home from work, late one night.
“I stopped into the station and bought the $20 scratch-off ticket,” said the anonymous winner. “When I scratched it off, I thought it was a joke. I just thought, ‘No way this can’t be real…’ so I scanned it to make sure and it said I’m a winner. I’ve been in complete shock since then.”
The lucky player won the top prize on a $20 Illinois Jackpot ticket.
Jibit Joy, owner of the Shell gas station in Harwood Heights, shared, “We are so excited for the winner. He came in to double-check his ticket and told our staff he won. Everyone has been so excited for him.”
This is also an exciting win for the Shell in Harwood Heights, as the store will receive a selling bonus of one percent of the prize amount.
This isn’t the first time the retailer has sold a big winning lottery ticket. In November 2022, the same Shell station sold a $600,000 winning scratch-off ticket.
Already this year, more than 13.5 million Illinois Lottery Instant Tickets have been sold, winning over $330 million in prizes.
The Illinois Lottery currently offers a range of Instant Ticket games priced from $1 to $50, available at approximately 7,000 retail locations across Illinois.
Instant Tickets b-roll available for download here.
March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month. If players are concerned about their play, they can call the toll-free 1-800-GAMBLER helpline for support. The helpline is a 24/7/365 service that can connect callers to information, counseling, and support. Helpline staff are also available by live chat at AreYouReallyWinning.org or by texting "GAMB" to 833234.
About the Illinois Lottery
The Illinois Lottery, founded in 1974, has contributed over $24 billion to the State’s Common School Fund in support of K-12 public education in Illinois since 1985. The Common School Fund is the Illinois Lottery’s primary benefactor, receiving nearly 99% of Illinois Lottery proceeds. The Illinois Lottery also supports various specialty causes as described in the Illinois Lottery Law (20 ILCS 1605/21.4). For more information about the Illinois Lottery and the causes we support, please visit IllinoisLottery.com.