Illinois player scoops $500K on a $10 Holiday Bucks ticket

• An Illinois player is entertaining the holiday season with $500,000 under her belt after a lucky $10 ticket turned into a winner!
• Playing the Holiday Bucks lottery game, the winner – Jessie – scooped up half a million in prize money
• She will now give back to the community and the people whom she holds dear

Christmas has come early for one player in Rockford, Illinois, after the person bought a $10 Holiday Bucks ticket only to realize that she had won the top prize. Jessie (not her real name) was doing some casual Walmart shopping when she thought about buying a ticket, and a good thing that she did, too!

Walmart shopping turns into a fantastic start to the holiday season

While running some errands at the supermarket, she bought a ticket and just like that, realized that she had won $500,000. It was an absolutely incredible experience, Jessie attested, and like every other big-time jackpot winner in history, she couldn’t believe her luck.

Staring at the ticket scan, she slowly realized that this was indeed the sum that she had won, even if she found it hard to believe.

"I ran out to my car and immediately called my husband. He shouted, ‘ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Leave the store now—and don’t let the ticket fly out the car window! I think it made him a nervous wreck," the winner said, recounting how she told her husband.

Jessie spoke about what her immediate plans were and said she would seek to give back to the community and the people she held dear. Happening at the " start" of the holiday season is definitely something Jessie appreciates, too.

AS to the Walmart in Rockford, the shop will also kick off the festive season with a bit of a financial boost - $10,000.

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