By Kate Reynolds
Early yesterday (9-22), one lucky person entered the BP Gas Station, 400 E. 95th St. in Chicago, to buy a Lotto ticket. The player woke up this morning *$23.75 million richer.
It’s the largest Illinois Lotto prize win this year and the second largest amount won in more than seven years. 8 People became millionaires since the jackpot began its run on Monday, October 17, 2022. More than 70,000 people won prizes ranging from $2 to $2,225 on the Thursday, September 21 drawing.
“I can’t believe it, the winning jackpot ticket was actually sold here,” Tanveer Haroon, co-owner of the gas station, said. “We’ve owned this family business for more than ten years, and this is by far the biggest winning jackpot ticket we’ve ever sold at our store – I’m so happy.”
“I don’t know (who might have bought the winning ticket), but I have a good feeling that it’s one of our regular customers,” Haroon continued. “We have many that frequently buy Lotto tickets – I bet it’s one of them. But no matter what, I’m excited for the lottery millionaire.”
The gas station owners will receive one percent ($237,500) of the winning amount. While not sure what he will do with the bonus, he said he does plan to celebrate with his family.
Lotto, an Illinois-only $2 ticket is played three times a week: Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. For an additional $1, players can add ‘Extra Shot’ for a chance to increase non-top prizes.
About the Illinois Lottery
Founded in 1974, the Illinois Lottery has contributed over $24 billion (since 1985) to the state’s Common School Fund to assist K-12 public schools and hundreds of millions of dollars to the Capital Projects Fund and special causes.
*The story has been updated due to an incorrect prize amount.