Someone in Illinois Won $500,000 and Might Not Even Know It Yet

Somebody in Illinois just got a whole lot richer, and they might not even know it yet.

$500,000 Winning Ticket Sold in Streator

The Illinois Lottery says a $500,000 winning Lucky Day Lotto ticket was sold Sunday at the Circle K on East Main Street in Streator. The ticket matched all five numbers in the evening drawing, but so far, no one has come forward to claim the prize.

Time to Check Your Pockets, Illinois

If you or someone you know picked up a Lucky Day Lotto ticket recently, it might be time to check your pockets, your glove box, or even that junk drawer in the kitchen. The Illinois Lottery reminds players to sign the back of their ticket and keep it in a safe place until they are ready to claim their winnings.

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Illinois Is on a Winning Streak

This big win is part of a streak of major Illinois Lottery payouts. Last week, a tourist visiting Chicago bought a ticket worth $3 million. Earlier this month, a woman in Rockford scored a $1 million prize through the online iLottery system. Winning big around here is starting to look like a trend.

Circle K Scores a Bonus Too

Circle K will also get a bonus for selling the winning ticket, which is usually a small percentage of the prize. It is a nice little reward for being part of someone's life-changing moment. Winners have one year from the date of the drawing to claim their prize. It would be tough to sit on a $500,000 ticket for too long without finding out, but you never know. It might be a good idea to check that old lottery ticket you tossed in your center console, just in case.