An Illinois grandmother’s life changed when she discovered she had won the $3 million top prize on her third scratch-off ticket, choosing it on a gut feeling at a gas station.
The lucky winner, who chose to remain anonymous, was nicknamed “Happy Grandma.”
“I usually buy the Crossword scratch-off, but something told me to try something different this time,” Happy Grandma said. “When I saw the $3 million top prize on the Super Bonus ticket, I just knew it was meant to be. It felt like divine intervention.”
She bought the winning $3,000,000 Super Bonus ticket at the BP Gas Station at 1 West St. Charles Road in Villa Park. The Illinois Lottery said she couldn’t be more thrilled with her luck.
The reveal happened at Happy Grandma’s home with her family nearby. “At first, I thought I’d just won my money back,” she said. “But as I scratched more, I realized I had won the jackpot.”
Still in disbelief, she handed the ticket to her husband to confirm. “I asked him, ‘Am I hallucinating?’” she joked. “Then we scanned the ticket with my phone to double-check, and that’s when we really lost it. We screamed and screamed—it was like we were in shock for a while!”
The BP Gas Station in Villa Park will receive a 1 percent bonus for selling the winning ticket, totaling $30,000.
“It’s like a miracle, and it couldn’t have come at a better time,” she said. “A portion of my winnings will help support my son, and I’m already planning for home improvements, holiday gifts, and a cruise for the grandkids.”
She added that “this season is going to be one for the books—full of celebrations and a few spa appointments!”
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