Call it the luck of the Irish.
Three residents from across Illinois became millionaires after winning a massive lottery prize this month.
Carol Vymetal of Woodridge, Jerre Stowers of Divernon and Kevin McInerney of Naperville each won $1 million in the St. Patrick’s Day Millionaire Raffle, according to the Illinois Lottery.
In total, the raffle awarded 9,253 prizes, including 250 $1,000 prizes and 9,000 $100 prizes, the lottery said.
There were 400,000 tickets available, giving players a 1-in-43 chance of winning a prize, according to the lottery’s website. A ticket cost $20.
“If the Cubs can win the World Series, then I can win the St. Patrick’s Day Millionaire Raffle,” McInerney told the Illinois Lottery, adding that he will use his prize for his children’s education. He bought his ticket at Solo Liquors, 1474 E. Chicago Ave., in Naperville.
Vymetal told the lottery she will use her winnings to support her family. She has played the Illinois Lottery since she won $1,500 in its first drawing in 1974. Her ticket was purchased at Leo’s Wines & Spirits, 3018 Hobson Road, in Woodridge.
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“What was even nicer [than selling the $1 million ticket] was that it was one of our regulars, and she needed it,” Leo’s co-owner Tarik Zayed told NBC 5.
The biggest ticket Leo’s had sold prior to this in about 25 years of selling lottery tickets was a $25,000 winner. Zayed said he always expected to sell a $1 million ticket and that it was just a matter of time.
When he found out he won, Stowers called his daughter at 2:30 a.m. to tell her the news. He will use his prize to upgrade his home and will give the leftovers to his kids and grandkids, according to the lottery. He purchased his ticket at Circle K, 329 W. State Route 104, in Divernon.
