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Gas station owners earn portion of $10.4 million lottery prize after store purchase
The new owners of an Illinois gas station have procured more than $100,000 after selling a winning state lottery ticket in Cook County.
The ticket, worth $10.4 million, was sold Saturday at a Mobil gas station in Des Plaines, about 20 miles northwest of Chicago, according to the Illinois State Lottery. The lottery has not yet announced the identity of the winner.
Together, Sijo George, Johnson Thomas and Jinu John recently purchased the Des Plaines business and will hence receive a selling bonus of one percent of the jackpot, the state lottery confirmed in a news release Tuesday.
"We only bought this store a month ago, and already we have a big jackpot winner!" John told the state lottery for the news release. "I don’t know who won - but it’s certainly one lucky guy or girl."
The winner of the jackpot will have one year to claim their $10.4 million jackpot, the state lottery said.
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John said hopes the win will boost attendance at their gas station as future lottery hopefuls hope to cash in on the location's luck.
"Since we only recently took over this location, we are eager to get to know our customers and hope to start seeing some regular faces," John added. "Our employees are all excited about this win, and of course we hope we’ll find out who the lucky winner is."
Where can you buy lottery tickets?
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Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-981-0023 (PR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit jackpocket.com/tos for full terms.
Contributing: Fernando Cervantes Jr.