Southern Illinois man wins $1 million from scratch off lottery ticket

ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - A Southern Illinois man has won $1 million after scratching a Illinois Lottery Instant Ticket.

According to the Illinois Lottery, the winning ticket was purchased Circle K gas station and convenience store in Mount Vernon, Illinois.

“My girlfriend scratched the ticket and kept on staring at it and saying, ‘This can’t be right, this can’t be right’ - so I took a look and then ended up saying the same thing,” laughed the winner, who has requested to remain anonymous. “Once it sank in that we had won $1 million, we were both dumbfounded and happy at the same time – a moment we will never forget.”

When asked what he plans to do with the winnings, the newfound millionaire replied, “Fulfill our dream and buy a new house, give a little love to my family and hopefully retire a little earlier.”

Since Circle K gas station sold the winning ticket, the retailer will receive a selling bonus of $10,000, which is one percent of the prize amount.