MT. VERNON – A man from southern Illinois recently claimed some serious cash, a cool $1 million, after scratching an Illinois Lottery Instant Ticket.

The winning ticket, $10 Million, was purchased at Circle K gas station and convenience store, located at 1710 S. 10th Street in Mount Vernon, IL.

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“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.”

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This is also a win for Circle K for selling the winning ticket, as the retailer will receive a selling bonus of $10,000, which is one percent of the prize amount.

Already this month, more than 2.5 million Illinois Lottery Instant Tickets have been sold, netting players over $63.7 million in prizes.

Instant Tickets B-roll available for use by the media; download here.

The Illinois Lottery reminds players to play for fun, not funds. Be Smart, Play Smart®. Must be 18 or older to play. Game odds available at IllinoisLottery.com.

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