Two Ashton, Illinois, co-workers and friends won a $350,000 Lucky Day Lotto jackpot after years of playing together.
A quick stop in West Chicago, Illinois, before a doctor’s appointment turned into a $350,000 surprise for two co-workers and friends from Ashton who had been playing together for years.
April and Randy had previously agreed to split any winnings between them, often joking that they would eventually have a big win despite people telling them it would never happen.
“People always told us, ‘You’re never going to win,’” Randy said. “But we’d laugh and say, ‘One day we’ll hit it.’”
Their moment arrived on January 7, when a Quick Pick ticket purchased at the Jewel-Osco at 177 E. Roosevelt Rd. in West Chicago matched all five numbers, 2-4-6-27-39, in the Lucky Day Lotto evening drawing.
Randy had purchased the ticket during a brief stop at the store while taking his wife to a doctor’s appointment.
“I was taking my wife to a doctor’s appointment and decided to make a quick stop,” he said. “We were at the right place at the right time.”
The news initially came with a misunderstanding about the size of their prize. Randy thought they had won $350 and even joked about buying more tickets. When April checked the app, she realised the amount was actually $350,000.
“We were in total disbelief,” April said. “At first, Randy thought we’d only won $350 and joked about buying more tickets. When I checked the app and saw it was $350,000, everything changed.”
Their agreement to share any winnings meant the prize would be split between the two long-time playing partners.
The news also quickly became a celebration at work. April said their co-workers responded with high fives and congratulations as word of the win spread.
“Everyone at work started giving us high fives and congratulating us,” she said.
