Northern Illinois Co-Workers Win $350,000 Lucky Day Lotto Jackpot

April and Randy, co-workers from Ashton, Illinois, hit the jackpot with a Quick Pick ticket purchased at a Jewel-Osco in West Chicago.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 10:07am

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Two co-workers from Ashton, Illinois, April and Randy, won a $350,000 Lucky Day Lotto jackpot with a Quick Pick ticket they purchased at a Jewel-Osco store in West Chicago. The duo had been playing the lottery together for years, and their lucky day arrived on January 7 when their ticket matched all five numbers in the evening drawing.

Why it matters

This story highlights the excitement and life-changing potential of winning a state lottery jackpot, especially for everyday people like co-workers who have been playing together for years. It also showcases the economic impact for the retailer that sold the winning ticket, which will receive a $3,500 bonus.

The details

April and Randy, who work together, had been playing the lottery as a team for a few years. On January 7, Randy purchased a Quick Pick ticket at a Jewel-Osco store in West Chicago on his way to a doctor's appointment with his wife. That ticket ended up matching all five numbers in the Lucky Day Lotto evening drawing, netting the co-workers a $350,000 jackpot prize. The duo had previously agreed to split any winnings, and the news of their big win quickly spread around their workplace.

  • On January 7, Randy purchased the winning Quick Pick ticket.
  • The Lucky Day Lotto evening drawing that the ticket matched took place on January 7.

The players

April

One of the co-workers from Ashton, Illinois who won the $350,000 Lucky Day Lotto jackpot.

Randy

One of the co-workers from Ashton, Illinois who won the $350,000 Lucky Day Lotto jackpot.

Jewel-Osco

The retailer located at 177 E. Roosevelt Rd. in West Chicago that sold the winning $350,000 Lucky Day Lotto ticket.

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What they’re saying

“People always told us, 'You're never going to win,' but we'd laugh and say, 'One day we'll hit it.'”

— Randy

“At first, Randy thought we'd only won $350 and joked about buying more tickets. When I checked the app and saw it was $350,000, everything changed.”

— April

What’s next

The duo plans to put their winnings toward property investments, retirement savings, and a vacation, with Randy potentially getting a tattoo instead of going to Ireland with his wife.

The takeaway

This story shows that even ordinary people can strike it big by playing the lottery, especially when they team up with co-workers or friends. The $350,000 jackpot win will allow April and Randy to make important investments and enjoy a well-deserved vacation, proving that a little luck can go a long way.