Illinois man wins $1M days before birthday with $5 ticket
A Kewanee man named Steve won $1 million on an Illinois Lottery scratch-off after nearly missing a smaller prize weeks earlier.
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
2 min read
An Illinois man wins $1M just days before his birthday after buying a $5 Onyx scratch-off ticket in Kewanee, according to the Illinois Lottery and a UPI report published July 24.
The winner, identified only as Steve, told Illinois Lottery officials the timing made the prize feel like a birthday present. The Kewanee resident bought the ticket at Beck's North, took it home and scratched it later that evening.
According to the lottery, Steve said he was watching television when he used a vintage coin to reveal the result. He had decided the coin would be his good-luck piece for the ticket, and this time the ritual paid off with a $1 million prize.
How did the Illinois man win $1M?
Steve won the prize on a $5 Onyx scratch-off ticket sold at Beck's North in Kewanee, the Illinois Lottery said. He did not scratch the ticket at the store, instead waiting until he was home later in the evening.
The win came after a near miss that was still fresh in his mind. Steve told lottery officials that a few weeks earlier he had been choosing between two $5 tickets. He picked one that did not win, while a coworker bought the other ticket and won $10,000.
That near miss did not keep him away for long. His next try, the Onyx ticket from Beck's North, turned into the seven-figure birthday surprise.
What does Steve plan to do with the money?
Steve told Illinois Lottery officials he has a few practical plans for the prize money. He said he wants to build a new garage and buy a new car.
The biggest personal perk may involve warmer weather and family time. Steve said he hopes to spend more of the winter in Arizona, where his son lives, so he can visit more often.
The Illinois Lottery described the prize as arriving just days before Steve's birthday. Steve told officials it was the best birthday gift he had ever received.
No additional details about the exact date of his birthday, the claim process or the after-tax value of the prize were included in the lottery account cited by UPI.
This story draws on original reporting from UPI.