Lottery duo's intentional strategy rewards them with six-figure win

By Kate Northrop

In a neighborhood community of avid lottery fans, two Illinois best friends decided to put their heads (and wallets) together to try to win a $518,309 FastPlay jackpot, not realizing that they'd end up winning it all.

Two is better than one — that's how one pair of Illinois friends like to think of their lottery play in their spare time, and it's also how they won a FastPlay jackpot totaling $518,309.

Joseph and Bryan of Downers Grove were more than happy to take the trip together to Illinois Lottery offices to claim their jackpot.

In what started out as a chill hangout between two best friends became one of the most memorable evenings they'd ever shared. While they typically join a bigger circle of neighborhood friends for playing the lottery, that particular time it was only the two of them playing.

 The strategy Joseph and Bryan landed on was to focus on playing higher-jackpot games, and it was the right call.

"We were being intentional about the games we chose that night," Bryan told the Lottery. "When the winning message popped up, it took a second to sink in. We just stared at each other, shocked and in disbelief."

The FastPlay "Twenty 20s" game had seen its progressive jackpot climb from $50,000 to more than $500,000, and the pair had just brought its run to a halt when their $20 ticket instantly won the $518,309 prize.

Word traveled fast when they shared the news of their win with family and other close friends. While the win comes at a meaningful time for Bryan, who will use his portion of the winnings to support his daughter in college, Joseph has an even greater financial cushion to land on now that he's retired from a 22-year career.

"This jackpot gives me the freedom to spend more time with my family and the flexibility to explore how best to reinvest this lucky break," Joseph explained.

There are currently 30 FastPlay games available at various price points and play styles in the Illinois Lottery. Tickets can be purchased in-person at retailers or online through the Lottery's official website or mobile app.

The Lottery has awarded nearly $7.3 million in FastPlay prizes to Illinois players so far in 2026, with more than 142,000 winning tickets purchased by players for the FastPlay "Twenty 20s" game.

(Click to display full-size in gallery)Joseph and Bryan of Downers Grove, Illinois are all smiles after winning the $518,309 jackpot playing FastPlay Twenty 20s.