Romeoville Man Wins the Lottery

A Romeoville man has won an Illinois Lottery instant game. 

Art Paredes played the Illinois Lottery instant game $250,000,000 Spectacular for the first time and won $1 million. 

“I had never seen this new game before and thought I should try a ticket," Paredes said in a release. "I can’t believe I won $1million the first time I ever played it!” 

Paredes bought his winning $250,000,000 Cash Spectacular ticket at Romeoville BP, 418 North Weber Road in Romeoville, when he stopped there to get gas.  He was sitting in his car when he scratched the ticket and instantly won $1,000,000. He immediately called his wife to tell her the news.  

“Then it started to sink in that I had a million dollars in my hand.  I drove home so carefully!” 

The lucky Romeoville resident and his wife plan to invest the winnings for the education of their three children and they may upgrade to a larger house.  Paredes will receive $50,000 annually for 20 years. Romeoville BP will receive a bonus of $10,000, equal to 1 percent of the prize amount, for selling the winning ticket.

Paredes said he has always felt he would win a big prize someday.  “I want other Lottery players to know that winning is possible. You might not think it is, but it is.”

Editor's note: This article was submitted by the Illinois Lottery.