Some remnants of St. Patrick’s luck can still be felt on Chicago’s South Side, despite the fading green dye in the Chicago River and the streets being cleaned of parade detritus.
A winning Lucky Day Lotto ticket worth $850,000 was sold at Video Connection in Hyde Park, an Illinois Lottery retail location. The winning numbers were 1-16-42-43-45.
The winner of the solution was fortunate, but so was Video Connection, as they are entitled to 1% of the winnings under the Illinois Lottery’s rules. In this case, they will receive $8,500.
The store’s winnings have already been allocated by Video Connection owner Charles Newsome, who stated:
We plan to utilize the bonus to settle any remaining debts. Furthermore, we aim to express our gratitude to our loyal employees who have remained dedicated to us during challenging times by giving them a special token of appreciation.
Newsome was shocked when he learned that the solution had been purchased at his shop. He assumed it must be a complex contraption because it was so intricate.
When my business partner texted me saying that our shop may have sold the winning lottery ticket, I thought it was just an April Fools’ joke. But when an Illinois Lottery agent called to thank us, I quickly realized it was no prank. It was an incredible moment!
The cash prize has not yet been claimed by the winner, but Newsome remains optimistic that a regular Video Connection customer has it in their possession, as he stated:
After over thirty years at this location, we have built strong relationships with many of our customers. We are all hoping that someone who regularly visits our store will also become a close friend.
If you’re feeling lucky and want to try your hand at catching lightning in a bottle, stop by Video Connection at 1208 E 53rd St.
Second to beat the internet was the Illinois Lottery.
In November, Illinois became the first state to introduce online gambling through the launch of Fast Play online.
When buying Fast Play tickets on your web browser, prices can range from $1 to $10.
In September 2020, physical stores began offering passports as a faster way to purchase and enjoy benefits. No need to select statistics, play games, scratch off tickets, or wait for winning numbers.
In its first 14 months after launching, Fast Play brought in revenue exceeding $48 million and sold nearly 11.7 million cards. Winners cashed out a total of almost $36.7 million during this time.
As cards become more accessible on mobile devices, those numbers are expected to continue to rise.
Nevertheless, a winning ticket from a local store such as Video Connection can enhance the charm of the story.
