ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) – A woman running errands at a Rockford Walmart wins big on a scratch-off ticket, according to the Illinois Lottery.
The anonymous winner, nicknamed “Jessie” won the $500,000 top prize on a $10 Holiday Bucks ticket purchased at the Walmart store at 3849 Northridge Drive.
Woman wins $500K on lottery ticket in Rockford(Illinois Lottery)
“I was in a hurry, so I just scratched the barcode on the ticket and scanned it at the machine. You wouldn’t believe how big my eyes got when ‘$500,000′ popped up on the screen!” Jessie said.
The lucky woman says she couldn’t believe her luck, even asking the clerk to double check she’d won.
“I ran out to my car and immediately called my husband,” Jessie recalled. “He shouted, ‘ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Leave the store now—and don’t let the ticket fly out the car window!’ I think it made him a nervous wreck,” she laughed.
Jessie says she plans to give back to the community with part of her windfall.
“It’s so amazing that this happened right at the start of the holiday season,” she said. “I want to treat my family, but I also plan to help those who are less fortunate—especially kids in my community—have a magical holiday season.”
The Illinois Lottery currently offers a range of Holiday Instant Ticket games priced from $1 to $20, available at nearly 7,000 retail locations across Illinois.(Illinois Lottery)
For selling the winning ticket, the Northridge Walmart store will receive $10,000.
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