Chicago-area Mega Millions players are dreaming big in the face of a $1.22 billion jackpot

CHICAGO (CBS) — Get those lottery tickets out. Mega Millions jackpot grew to 1.22 billion ahead of Friday night’s drawing, making it one of the biggest jackpots in the game’s history.

The winning numbers drawn on Friday night were: 3, 7, 37, 49, 55, with a Mega Ball on 6.

The chance of the huge jackpot had lottery players excited for a chance at the gigantic top prize.

They say lightning never strikes the same place twice, but some people who play the Mega Millions game are hoping lottery magic can do just that by checking out two places that have a proven track record of select winners.

Some shoppers at the Jewel-Osco store in Melrose Park are walking away with more than just groceries. A person picked a $1 million Powerball ticket at the store last Saturday.

“I come here every day, so now I’m like, ‘I’m going to start playing the lotto.’ Yeah, for sure, every day,” Ayisha Sheard said.

Jessica Mendina, who doesn’t play the lottery, said it was cool to hear that someone already won $1 million playing the lottery there last week.

“Good for them, to be honest. I’m happy for them, especially now in the season of giving. Sometimes you just need a little hope for the coming new year. You don’t know what they might do with it. They could do whatever now,” she said.

So what would players do if they had the money to do something?

“I definitely want to pay my college tuition and buy a property,” said Peter Valez.

Sheard said she would pay her children’s school fees and “probably get a new house built from the ground up.”

Very reasonable options, to be sure, but how about a splurge?

“I would buy a boat for Lake Michigan; definitely put it there, yes,” Valez said.

Brian Wakeman said he wanted to buy a house in Florida.

Sheard said she “might even give everyone a car.”

“Like Oprah. Everybody gets a car. You get a car, you get a car,” she said.

Almost every shopper at a convenience store in River Grove picked up tickets on Friday. The store previously had a $600,000 winner.

“I think the most I’ve ever won is $100,” Valez said. “Until tonight.”

Patricia DeVito has already won $1 on her scratch card. Not much, but she said it’s pretty good luck for today.

“I never win. My daughter is the winner all the time, but not me,” she said.

Devito said she hopes the luck carries over to her Mega Millions ticket

“Wow, I would be very happy,” she said.

Lottery players have claimed the Mega Millions jackpot just three times in 2024 — the fewest in any year since the game began.

If you don’t win on Friday night, there’s always next time, but starting in April 2025, the cost of a Mega Millions ticket will increase from $2 to $5.