Des Plaines man wins Lucky Day Lotto

Gilberto Gonzalez from Des Plaines is one lucky guy. He was presented Tuesday with an oversized $800,000 check from the Illinois Lottery, the proceeds from the winning Lucky Day Lotto (formerly Little Lotto) ticket he bought at El Mexico Grocery Store in Des Plaines. Gilberto could not believe his eyes when he realized he had matched all five numbers (01-15-22-32-39) on the March 26 draw through a Quick Pick. “I was speechless. I was shocked. I was stunned!” he exclaimed.

This win could not have come at a better time for Gilberto as he is tying the knot in September. He plans on using the money to pay off some bills, pay for wedding expenses and buy their dream home after getting married.

“We are going to take our sweet time to make sure we get what we really want,” he said.

El Mexico Grocery Store is the main place where Gilberto purchases his tickets. Store owner Guillermo Gonzalez also received an oversized check for $8,000, 1 percent of the jackpot amount, for selling a winning ticket.

“It feels great to be a part of this ceremony. Today proves this is a lucky store,” he stated.

Gilberto is going to make sure that nothing but good comes out of his Lottery win.

“Good luck falls into the lap of those who are prepared to do something great with it,” are the wise words he will always remember from a dear friend. “I’m going to help my family in any way that I can to make their lives better!”