An Illinois man recently claimed a $1 million lottery prize on Valentine's Day, just days after going through a break-up. The winner, who chose to remain anonymous, won the prize from the 'Monopoly 50X' scratch-off game. This unexpected windfall came at a time when the winner was feeling down in the love department, but it turned out to be a stroke of luck.
According to the Illinois Lottery, the winner described his reaction to scratching the winning ticket as a mix of panic and excitement. He immediately felt his life change and even considered not going to work. The winning ticket was purchased from Walmart at 137 W. North Ave, Northlake, and the winner has chosen to keep the details a secret.
The winner expressed that he didn't have a special someone to share the news with due to his recent break-up. However, he saw this as a positive turn of events, stating that he hadn't had much luck in the love department but now truly hit the jackpot. The winner claimed his prize on Valentine's Day, opting for the cash option of $600,000 before taxes.
'Monopoly 50X' is a $10 scratch-off game that offers players the chance to win up to $1 million. Launched on January 2nd, the game has already awarded one of its three top prizes. There are still five out of six second-tier prizes worth $100,000 and 21 out of 27 third-tier prizes worth $5,000 remaining.
The probability of winning any prize in the 'Monopoly 50X' game is 1 in 3.39. The chance of winning the top prize is 1 in 2,036,500,000.
Lottery tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores, grocery stores, and some airport terminals. For added convenience, tickets can also be ordered online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Jackpocket allows users in select U.S. states and territories to pick their lottery game and numbers, place orders, view tickets, and collect winnings using their phone or home computer.
Remember to play responsibly and only if you are of legal age. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, seek help from the appropriate resources.
