An Illinois Lotto player at the convenience store next to East St. Louis City Hall has 14.6 million reasons to be happy after Monday’s drawing.
A winning ticket with a jackpot worth $14.6 million was sold at the store at 306 E. Broadway.
The six winning numbers were: 5, 9, 14, 18, 22 and 23.
Ed Hamed, the owner of the store, said he doesn’t know who bought the winning ticket. He’s calls his shop Gas Mart but it’s listed as a Crown Mart by Illinois Lottery.
As of Tuesday, the Illinois Lotto’s newest millionaire has not claimed the $14.6 million prize, according to an Illinois Lottery news release.
“Our phone has been ringing off the hook with customers calling to congratulate us for selling the jackpot-winning Lotto ticket,” Hamed said in a statement to Illinois Lottery.
Winners have one year from the drawing date to claim a prize. However, if you want a “lump sum payment,” they need to step forward within 60 days.
Hamed said the largest winning lottery ticket he previously sold was worth about $50,000. He also has sold tickets worth $20,000 and $30,000.
Stores that sell a winning Lotto ticket get 1% of the winning prize, which would be $146,000 for Hamed.
Editor's note: This story was originally published by the Belleville News-Democrat. Mike Koziatek is a reporter for the BND, a news partner of St. Louis Public Radio. BND photographer Joshua Carter contributed to this report.
