Cats Are Good Luck For Illinois Lottery Winner

CHICAGO, IL — An Illinois Lottery player from the Chicago suburbs said she looks around at what's happening in her life for inspiration — and her new pet cats may have something to do with her recent lotto win. According to the Illinois Lottery, the woman won a $1,180 Pick 4 prize after recently adopting two cats from PAWS Chicago.

The woman shared her story anonymously, saying she grabbed a Pick 4 ticket not long after adopting Eustace, a gray Tabby, and Denzel, a domestic short hair, and decided to play the numbers of the address of PAWS Chicago — 1-9-9-7, for 1997 N. Clybourn Ave.

The winner, who's been a regular Illinois Lottery player over the past 10 years or so, said she was home when she found out she won, adding that the news brought out her holiday spirit, according to the news release.

“When I found out I won, my first thought was ‘Happy Christmas!’,” she said, according to the Illinois Lottery. “With my winnings, I am going to buy a few things for my cats. I have been looking at PetSmart online for a cat tree and of course cat food and lots of catnip too!"

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According to the Illinois Lottery, the winner said that Pick 3 and Pick 4 are her favorite games to play.

“I like to play situational numbers, so the lucky numbers that I play are what is occurring in my life, like a new phone number, birthday or address,” the winner told the Illinois Lottery, adding that her advice to other lottery players is to play a number if it feels right, and to go with your "gut instinct."

According to the news release, the player has previously won prizes playing these special situational numbers, and shared the story of one of her favorite past wins.

“One time, I played my son’s birthday on Pick 4 and won a $5,000 prize,” she told the Illinois Lottery.

More: illinoislottery.com