Daughter wins with family numbers after mother missed out on $6.4 million
By Kate Northrop
CHICAGO, Ill. — An Illinois woman stuck with family tradition by playing lottery numbers that her mother had nearly won a $6.4 million prize with long ago, and the decision to do so won her a $1 million Lotto jackpot.
After seeing that her mother was on the right path, one Illinois woman ended up winning a $1 million Lotto jackpot after using numbers passed down to her.
The lottery gene is strong in this family — it reared its fortuitous head when the anonymous woman decided she'd take on the tradition of playing a set of numbers inspired by birthdays and anniversaries.
The Southern Illinois player told Illinois Lottery officials that her mother had played those same Lotto numbers in a drawing years ago but missed winning a $6.4 million jackpot when she forgot to play them that one time.
"The numbers were drawn exactly as she had them — she just never played the ticket," the winner explained. "So my mother told me, 'Play these numbers. One day, they'll hit.'"
Those numbers were 2, 14, 16, 31, 40, and 46, and the day finally arrived that they'd make her an overnight millionaire. She won the $1 million jackpot in the March 21 Lotto Million 2 drawing with a ticket she purchased online, plus another $5 win on a separate play.
She confirmed the win over email and immediately reached out to her family to share the news.
"My husband, daughter, and I were at home in disbelief," she recalled. "I asked myself, 'Is this really true?'"
Perhaps the vacation to the Bahamas that the winner is planning for her family will help cement the idea. She's also planning on purchasing new cars and investing a portion of the prize in her daughter's education, the Lottery said.
"We're just normal, everyday people," the winner added. "This win is truly a blessing from my mother."
Lotto drawings take place every Monday, Thursday, and Saturday at 9:20 p.m. Central Time. Tickets cost $2 each and are available for purchase at official licensed Lottery retailers, online, or in the Illinois Lottery app.
The Lotto jackpot currently stands at $3.35 million for the next drawing on Thursday, April 16 at 9:20 p.m. Central Time.
All winning numbers, prizes, and odds are available on Lottery Post's Illinois Lottery Results page right after each drawing.
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So the same set of numbers won twice? Not sure I am buying that claim.
Is that like when an lp member claims they almost won a jp and have one number on 4 different rows?
"Perhaps the vacation to the Bahamas that the winner is planning for her family will help cement the idea. She's also planning on purchasing new cars and investing a portion of the prize in her daughter's education, the Lottery said."
I love some new car too 🤑
Congratulations 🎉 on the win.
Not sure anybody in my family played the numbers that I have for tonight's MM draw, more so since it's a QP 🤣🤣🤣
Good luck to all 🤞
Congrats to the lucky Copy-cat
Always listen to your mother.
This was a 6/50 game but there was a guy that did it on an Illinois Lucky Lotto which is a 5/45 game.
https://www.ctinsider.com/weird/article/Ill-man-wins-lottery-for-2nd-time-using-same-8323258.php
I checked the numbers for the past year and there were no other 6 number hits. Maybe someone has access to further back numbers?
Great story!
Congrats!