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Ex-cop told to lie to claim Illinois Lottery prizeNews Story
Ron Smith was surprised to learn in August that he was banned from claiming a $995 Illinois Lottery prize because he had been working a security job with the state agency that oversees horse tracks.He continued to be amazed a couple of weeks later when a Lottery staffer called and asked him if he wanted to travel to Springfield and claim the cash on an apparent wink-and-nod basis. A telephone message later left at his house told him he could get the cash in Des Plaines, closer to his Will County
Jan 18, 2005, 9:21 am - Lottery News

Unclaimed $14 M In Jeopardy Of DisappearingNews Story
There is a multimillion-dollar mystery in Illinois.Someone out there has won $14 million in the state lottery and has yet to claim the money. If the winner does not come forward in the next three weeks, that fortune is gone forever.There have been a lot of other lotto prizes unclaimed over the years, apparently, but none this big.The drawing was held Jan 31, 2004, meaning the chance to step forward and claim the winnings runs out on Jan. 31, 2005. If the the winning ticket doesn't show up, the m
Jan 12, 2005, 10:18 am - Lottery News

One ticket wins $19 million Illinois Lotto jackpotNews Story
A single player has won the $19 million grand prize from the latest drawing of the Illinois State Lottery's Lotto game.The only ticket to match all six winning numbers from Wednesday night's drawing was sold at a convenience store in Roscoe.The grand prize for Saturday night's Lotto drawing will be $2 million.In addition to the grand prize winner, 41 players matched five of the six winning numbers from Wednesday night's drawing good for second prizes of $868 apiece.Another 2,073 players matche
Sep 24, 2004, 8:51 am - Lottery News

Illinois Lottery's founder rememberedNews Story
The man, who represented Rockford in Springfield for 28 years, has a highway and a building named after him, is also known as the founder of the Illinois Lottery.As the Illinois Lottery turns 30, Zeke Giorgi's family remembers.Over the last 30 years, the Father of the Lottery has made a lot of people millionaires. He'd always joke about it, I never hear from any of the millionaires, says Giorgi's daughter Barbara Vella.Giorgi introduced Illinois to the lottery back in 1974, and tickets have b
Sep 14, 2004, 7:48 am - Lottery News

$40 million lottery winners still OK after two decadesNews Story
When Mike Wittkowski won $40 million in the Illinois Lottery two decades ago, the media reported worldwide on what was called the largest prize ever won by an individual in North America.Strangers wrote from as far as Poland and Italy, begging him to send some of his winnings their way.Since then, Wittkowski has maintained a low profile. For years he and his wife even kept the windfall secret from their children. Their eldest son, Bryan, now 17, only learned of the family fortune in 2nd grade. O
Sep 7, 2004, 10:00 am - Lottery News

$40 Million Man's payments endNews Story
For the first time in 20 years, Michael Wittkowski and family won't be receiving their big fat annual check courtesy of the Illinois State Lottery.The $40 Million Man is on his own again.Do you remember him? If you were around at the time, who could forget?His was the first mega-jackpot in Illinois lottery history, the biggest to a single winner anywhere in the nation at the time, earning the then-28-year-old unmarried printer from the Northwest Side a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records
Aug 31, 2004, 8:53 am - Lottery News

Illinois man claims $8 million lottery jackpotNews Story
He apparently took his time about it, but the owner of a winning $8 million Lotto ticket purchased the week of June 16 at a Sunset Avenue convenience store presented himself and his valuable ticket to Illinois Lottery officials earlier this month.Lottery spokesman Courtney Hill said Thursday that 58-year-old Jose Angulo Leon of Waukegan was awarded a check for $8 million, minus the taxman's take, after bringing the winning ducat to one of the state's Check Writing Centers for verification. We we
Jul 30, 2004, 8:23 am - Lottery News

Illinois Lottery Celebrates 30 Years With Birthday BashNews Story
In 1974, the Illinois Lottery sold its first ticket. Thirty years and $12 billion in education contributions later, the Lottery celebrated a record sales year and a major anniversary with a 30th Anniversary Birthday Bash at the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago.The birthday party was a virtual throwback to 1974. Hundreds of Lottery fans and players were on hand as Illinois Lottery Superintendent Carolyn Adams gave remarks on the success of the Lottery and Jimmy JJ Walker from the 1970's hit
Jul 2, 2004, 8:11 am - Lottery News

Single winner takes $8 million Illinois Lotto jackpotNews Story
A single player has won the $8 million grand prize from the latest drawing of the Illinois State Lottery's Lotto game.The only ticket to match all six winning numbers from Wednesday night's drawing was sold at a convenience store in Waukegan, a community about 40 miles north of Chicago.The grand prize for Saturday night's Lotto drawing will be $2 million.In addition to the grand prize winner, 32 players matched five of the six winning numbers from Wednesday night's drawing - good or second prize
Jun 17, 2004, 6:45 am - Lottery News

Illinois Lottery Gives Second Chance for WinnerNews Story
The Illinois Lottery continued its birthday celebration this week with its second winner in the largest second-chance promotion in Lottery history.As part of the celebration, Illinois Lottery Superintendent Carolyn Adams surprised Petra DeFrance of Homewood, IL with a check for $100,000 on Monday at DeFrance's home. I didn't ever think you could win one of these things, said a noticeably shaken DeFrance. This could not have come at a better time for my family. DeFrance said the first thing she
May 24, 2004, 9:03 am - Lottery News