Chicago man wins nearly $500K ahead of holidays after buying $10 ticket

The Brief

Chicago mechanic Peter won a $487,929 Fast Play jackpot on the Illinois Lottery’s $10 Luxury Loot game after buying his ticket online.
He learned about his win while waiting for a friend and said he plans to support family, friends, and his community through small acts of kindness. The Illinois Lottery offers 35 Fast Play games that can be played instantly online, in stores, or through the lottery app.

CHICAGO – A Chicago man won nearly $500,000 in a lottery jackpot just in time for the holiday season.

What we know:

The winner, identified only as Peter, a mechanic, claimed a $487,929 Fast Play jackpot on the Illinois Lottery’s $10 Luxury Loot game, officials said Friday.

Peter bought the winning ticket online after being attracted to the game’s theme.

“I just love dogs! This game has an adorable little bulldog,” Peter said. “I noticed the jackpot was growing and I just knew I had to play.”

He said he discovered the win while waiting for a friend after picking up gifts and groceries.

“I was waiting for a friend after buying them a gift and a few groceries for the week,” he said. “I was stunned when I saw I had won.”

“My friend was just a block away. I dropped the groceries right then and started running towards them screaming in excitement!” he added.

Peter said he plans to use his winnings to support his family and friends and share his good fortune through small acts of kindness.

“I love investing in my community—gestures like paying for someone’s meal or expenses make my heart full,” he said.

How to play:

Fast Play is a type of lottery game available anytime, according to lottery officials.

The Illinois Lottery currently features 35 Fast Play games. There are no numbers to choose, no play slips, no scratching, and no waiting for results.

Tickets can be purchased online, in stores, and through the Illinois Lottery app.

This article has been carefully fact-checked by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and eliminate any misleading information. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity in our content.