A scratch-off Illinois State Lottery ticket purchased from the Speedway gas station in South Elgin has netted a lucky winner $10 million.
Assistant manager Samethia Broomfield says she had no idea who the newly minted millionnaire is but speculates it could be one of their regular customers who often come in to buy scratch-off tickets.
When asked if she thinks the winner will want to tip the employee who sold them the life-changing ticket, she laughed.
“Hopefully,” Broomfield said.
Illinois State Lottery officials announced the ticket was sold at the 1775 N. LaFox St. store in the first few days of January. But since winners can opt to remain anonymous, it’s possible their identity will never be known publicly.
What is known is the winner is the third to land the $10 million jackpot in the last year. The others were sold at an Alton convenience store in May 2024 and at a Jewel-Osco store in Countryside in November. The game also offers 15 chances to win a $1 million prize.
Whoever drew the winning ticket can opt to be paid in annual payments of $500,000 for 20 years or receive a one-time cash payment of $6 million (less taxes), according to the lottery website.
For selling the winning ticket, the Speedway gas station will receive a $100,000 bonus — 1% of the prize.
Instant tickets netted players more than $1.64 billion in prizes in 2024, a news release on the winning ticket said. Tickets range in price from $1 to $50 and are available in about 7,000 retailers across the state.
The Illinois Lottery was founded in 1974 and has contributed over $25 billion to the State’s Common School Fund in support of K-12 public education in Illinois since 1985, the release said. The Common School Fund is the Illinois Lottery’s primary beneficiary.
Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
