Lottery player with a ‘vision’ chooses different ticket — and wins IL jackpot

Bypassing a scratch-off ticket she originally planned on buying, an Illinois woman is now thankful for her life-changing impulsive decision.

She can thank a vision she had for the $1 million win in the Ultimate Bonus Payout game from the Illinois Lottery.

“I was planning to buy a different scratch-off game, but as I looked over the other options, this ticket stood out,” she told lottery officials in a July 30 news release. “It was as if my vision blocked out all the other tickets — this one was meant to be.”

The woman, who purchased her $10 ticket at a grocery store in Cary, needed a sweet treat and some fitting music before she could scratch off her ticket.

“I was at home eating a chocolate bar with the song ‘Money’ by Pink Floyd playing in the background,” she told lottery officials. “I scratched the last symbol and immediately FaceTimed my son, repeating over and over, ‘I’m going to have a heart attack — I just won $1 million!’”

Now, the winner plans on spoiling her family. She said she plans to share the winnings with 15 family members, including her three adult children, as well as a close friend and their family.

She plans to have plenty of money left over to go on a vacation with her husband.

“I want to buy a car with a sunroof and take a vacation somewhere in the Keys with my husband where I can swim with dolphins — just a few things on my bucket list,” she said.

Cary is about a 45-mile drive northwest from Chicago.

This story was originally published July 30, 2025 at 2:12 PM with the headline "Lottery player with a ‘vision’ chooses different ticket — and wins IL jackpot."