Retired IL Teacher Wins $250K On Lottery Ticket Bought By Mistake

An accidental iLottery purchase paid off in a big way for Holly of Johnston City, who won a $250,000 FastPlay jackpot on the Illinois Lottery’s $20 Magnificent Multiplier, lottery officials said Monday.

The woman—going only by Holly—said she bought the winning ticket by mistake.

“I meant to buy the $2 Booming Bucks,” she said with a laugh. “I was watching a movie and accidentally selected the $20 ticket.”

She recalled thinking, “Oh shoot! I didn’t want to spend that much.”

The lucky winner said she was stunned when she realized she had won the jackpot. “I was sitting at my desk in my home office," she said. “I honestly thought my computer had crashed!”

Holly wasted no time sharing the big news with her husband.

“Before I could even show him the ticket, he said, ‘It’s so late—did you make a meme?’” she recalled. “I told him, ‘No silly—I won the jackpot!’”

The timely windfall comes as a welcome surprise for the retired teacher, who plans to build a new family home and purchase a baby grand piano so she can further pursue her passion for music.

FastPlay is a style of lottery games that are quick and easy, and can be played at any time. There are no numbers to pick, no play slip to complete, no scratching, and no waiting for winning numbers. The Illinois Lottery currently offers 35 FastPlay games at various price points and play styles.

Tickets for the game can be purchased in-store, online, or on the Illinois Lottery app. For more information or to buy tickets online, please visit IllinoisLottery.com.

The Illinois Lottery reminds players to play for fun, not funds. Be Smart, Play Smart. Must be 18 or older to play. Game odds available at IllinoisLottery.com.