Fiona Simmons September 25, 2025 2 min read

Illinois Lottery Player Cried as They Won $14.6M Lotto Jackpot

In an interview with the lottery, the East St. Louis Lotto Winner admitted that Lotto has been their favorite game ever since starting to play in January 2024

Image Source: Illinois Lottery

A lucky player from Illinois has bagged the largest jackpot from the Illinois Lotto game for the year. In an interview with the Illinois Lottery, the winner said that they were so moved that they cried.

The Biggest Illinois Lotto Jackpot for 2025

The winner, who preferred to remain anonymous, was referred to by the lottery as the East St. Louis Lotto Winner. The player succeeded in matching all six numbers for the August 25 drawing, netting them some $14.6 million, which is the state’s largest Lotto jackpot for the year.

For context, the winning numbers for the August 25 Lotto drawing were 5, 9, 14, 18, 22, and 23.

According to the lottery’s official announcement, the winning ticket was purchased at Crown Mart, a store located at 306 E Broadway in East Saint Louis. The shop is set to receive a $146,000 bonus for selling the ticket.

As mentioned, the jackpot won by the East St. Louis Lotto Winner was the biggest Lotto jackpot for the year, followed by February’s $10.4 million prize.

The Winner Will Take Care of Their Family and Maybe Go Sightseeing

In an interview with the lottery, the East St. Louis Lotto Winner admitted that Lotto has been their favorite game ever since starting to play in January 2024. When asked about how they picked their numbers, the player said that they were simply their favorite numbers.

The winner admitted that they were astounded by the fact that they had won such a significant sum.

I checked the Illinois Lottery’s website to see who won – and realized it was me. Of all of the people, it was me! I cried because I was too shocked.
East St. Louis Lotto Winner

When asked about their plan for the money, the player said that they wanted to buy a home and drive a Lexus. In addition to that, the East St. Louis Lotto Winner teased that they might go sightseeing and are already eyeing a visit to France.

However, the winner described their family as their biggest priority and motivation. Because of that, they promised to invest in their granddaughters, supporting their education and dreams.

My granddaughters’ future is my priority and I’m using this prize money to support their education and dreams.
East St. Louis Lotto Winner

In the meantime, the Florida Lottery just announced its biggest winners for June 2025.

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Fiona Simmons

Journalist

Although Fiona doesn't have a long-spanning background within the gambling industry, she is an incredibly skilled journalist who has built a strong interest in the constantly growing iGaming network. The team at Gambling News is glad to have her on our roster to help deliver the best stories as soon as they hit. Aside from writing, she loves to dabble in online casino games such as slots and roulette, both for her own enjoyment and also as research to better improve her understanding of the industry.

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