An Illinois father of four is celebrating a $1 million lottery win after purchasing a $50 scratch-off ticket. The Illinois Lottery announced the exciting news in a Tuesday press release.
The lucky winner, who has chosen to remain anonymous, purchased his winning $50 Millionaire Club Instant Ticket at Cub Foods, located at 1512 S. West Ave. in Freeport.
Interestingly, his big win came after a local sporting event. Although his favorite team lost the game, his luck quickly turned around.
“My favorite team might have lost that game, but I came out a winner,” he said. “I’m still processing it all – I can’t believe it.”
A Second Ticket Brings a $1 Million Surprise
According to the Illinois Lottery, this wasn't his first time playing the Millionaire Club game. He had purchased a ticket the previous day and won $100. Encouraged by that small prize, he decided to give the game another try the next day.
That second attempt turned into a life-changing $1 million win!
How He Plans to Spend His Winnings
The father has several plans for his newfound fortune. He intends to:
- Purchase a new car.
- Put money toward his retirement.
- Share some of his winnings with his family.
- Treat his children to a private suite experience during sports season.
The winner said his four children encouraged him to spend some of the money on himself. As a family that loves sports, he is especially excited about giving his kids a memorable experience.
“We’re a sports family,” he shared. “I’m excited to treat my kids to a private suite experience during game season.”
Illinois Lottery Players Win Billions in 2026
The retailer that sold the winning ticket, Cub Foods in Freeport, will also receive a $10,000 bonus, equal to 1% of the prize amount.
Meanwhile, the Illinois Lottery continues to award major prizes across the state. Nearly 50 million winning Instant Tickets have been sold so far in 2026, with players collecting more than $1.3 billion in prizes.
Instant Tickets are available in prices ranging from $1 to $50 at approximately 7,000 retail locations throughout Illinois.
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