A winning $50,000 lottery ticket was sold at a gas station in McHenry, the same store that sold a $3 million ticket in October, as the Powerball jackpot surges to $1.6 billion.
The Illinois Lottery said the Powerball jackpot has increased to an estimated $1.6 billion for Monday evening’s drawing, “fueling holiday excitement across Illinois.”
The prize would rank as the fourth-largest Powerball jackpot and the fifth-largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history if won.
The jackpot rolled over following Saturday night’s drawing when no ticket matched all six winning numbers — 4, 5, 28, 52, 69, and Powerball 20.
Several Illinois players still celebrated major wins in the Saturday evening drawing despite no jackpot winner.
One iLottery player won $150,000 by matching four numbers plus the Powerball and adding the Power Play feature.
Four other Illinois players each won $50,000 after matching four numbers and the Powerball.
One of the $50,000 winning tickets was sold at Bull Valley Trio convenience store and BP gas station, located at 5301 Bull Valley Road in McHenry.
The same gas station sold a “life-changing” $3 million prize in the October 21 Mega Millions drawing.
Melissa Motroni, the Store Manager of Bull Valley Trio, said in October that her store sold a $10,000 winning scratch-off ticket in September and then the $3 million ticket.
“I guess you can say we’re a lucky store. Everyone’s excited to see who the winner is!” Motroni said.
The three other $50,000 wins were an iLottery player, along with players who purchased tickets at Gas N Wash on Caton Farm Road in Plainfield and the Speedway on Ogden Avenue in Lisle.
The Illinois Lottery said they encourage all players to check their tickets carefully. Winners have one year to claim their prize.
The current Powerball jackpot run began on September 7.
More than 1.3 million winning tickets have been sold statewide since then, awarding players over $16.1 million in prizes and generating more than $26 million for the Illinois Common School Fund, which supports K-12 public education.
Powerball sales also benefit local retailers, who earn commissions on every ticket sold and receive a 1% selling bonus of the prize amount on any winning ticket.
Lottery officials say customers should gift smart during the holiday season and never give lottery tickets to a minor.