Libertyville man $1 million richer after playing $300M Cash Spectacular

A north suburban man hit the jackpot—$1 million worth—in the Illinois Lottery’s $300,000,000 Cash Spectacular.

Paul Veselack, 53, of Libertyville, works in the healthcare industry and is married with two children, according to a statement from the Illinois Lottery.

“I froze when I realized I had won and I just stared at my ticket,” said Veselack, who was in his kitchen when he discovered his win by scratching his ticket with a quarter.

He immediately signed the back of the ticket and called his wife to tell her the news.

“I was drawn by the name of the $300,000,000 Cash Spectacular instant game and decided to play it. I am still in shock that I won a million dollars!” Veselack said in the statement.

He plans to invest the money towards retirement and pay for his children’s education.

The winning ticket was purchased at 7-Eleven at 645 North State Street in Chicago, which received a bonus of $10,000.

Veselack, who chose to collect his prize in a one-time payment of $600,000 before taxes, offered his advice to other lottery players: “You can’t win if you don’t play!”