An Illinois mom kicked off the new year with a huge smile after landing a $350,000 jackpot in the Lucky Day Lotto drawing on December 25—talk about a Christmas surprise.
The winner, who chose to stay anonymous, goes by the nickname “Work Mom.” She says the name stuck because she’s the oldest at her job and always looks out for everyone. Turns out, luck was looking out for her too.
She bought her ticket online and picked the numbers herself: 4-10-12-30-31. Those numbers weren’t random either—they’re tied to birthdays of her and her kids, making the win even more special.
The moment she found out? Pure shock.
She was relaxing at home watching TV when an email popped up saying she’d won.
“At first, I thought it was a glitch,” she said. “I nearly panicked and rushed to check the Illinois Lottery app to be sure it was real.”
Once it sank in, the win felt like a true holiday blessing.
What’s next for “Work Mom”?
She already has smart and heartfelt plans for the money:
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Investing in retirement
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Helping pay for her daughters’ education
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Taking a dream family vacation
And yes, that long-awaited trip is happening.
“We’re going to Alaska,” she shared—her husband’s top pick.
Lucky Day Lotto is an Illinois-only game with two drawings every day. Jackpots start at $100,000, tickets cost just $1, and players have a solid chance to win something, with 1 in 12 odds for any prize.
Lottery officials also used her story as a reminder to play responsibly and for fun, not as a financial plan.
Since 1985, the Illinois Lottery has returned over $25 billion to the state’s Common School Fund, helping support K-12 public education and other important programs—making wins like this one feel even more meaningful.
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