VANDALIA, Ill. (Chambana Today) — A trip to the gas station while visiting her hometown led to a multi-million dollar payday for one Illinois woman.

While visiting family in Vandalia for the holidays, a woman, who chose to remain anonymous, purchased several scratch-off tickets at a Phillips 66 in town, and walked away with a $3 million top prize. But that all may not have happened if it weren’t for a change in plans, she says.

“I was going to stop at another gas station, but it was closed for Christmas Eve,” she said. “Phillips was the only place open, so I decided to go there instead.”

“When I scanned the ticket at the store, I honestly thought the machine was broken—until I realized I had won $3 million,” the lucky winner said.

The newly minted millionaire plans to use part of her prize to support her family while setting aside the rest for retirement. She also plans to continue running her cleaning business.

“I don’t plan on quitting,” she said with a smile. “I’ll take a family vacation, but I’m still working.”

For selling the winning ticket, the retailer will receive a bonus of one percent of the prize amount, totalling $30,000.

In 2025, Illinois Lottery scratch-off games produced more than 60.8 million winning tickets, awarding players over $1.62 billion in prizes.

The Illinois Lottery currently offers a range of Holiday Instant Ticket games priced from $1 to $20, available at nearly 7,000 retail locations across Illinois. 

Playing the lottery should be a form of entertainment. Please remember to set a limit and stick to it. Be Smart, Play Smart^®. Must be 18 or older to play.