Family Birthdays Win $600,000 Lucky Lotto Prize for Lifelong South Sider

CHICAGO, IL — A lifelong South Sider won a $600,000 jackpot when her numbers were pulled in the Illinois Lottery’s Lucky Day Lotto.

Desiree Heil’s ticket matched all five numbers in the March 8 midday drawing -- ­­01 - 06 - 12 - 14 - 21.

“I’m shocked! I still can’t believe I won,” she said when she presented her winning ticket at the Illinois Lottery Prize Center in Chicago.

Heil chose her own numbers and bought her $1 ticket at Citgo, 3820 S. Archer Ave., in Chicago.

“My winning numbers are family birthdays, and the date of my first date with my husband.”

She and her husband have been married 31 years. They plan to share the windfall with their family, pay bills and invest.

Citgo received a bonus of $6,000, or one percent of the prize amount, for selling the winning ticket. More than 18,500 players won prizes ranging from $1 to $200 in this Lucky Day Lotto drawing. Lucky Day Lotto drawings are twice a day, seven days a week. For more information, please visit Illinois Lottery.

Lucky Day Lotto winner Desiree Heil | Illinois Lottery