Round Lake man instantly becomes $500K richer with lottery win

Jermaine Roby | Illinois Lottery
Jermaine Roby | Illinois Lottery

(ROUND LAKE) A northwest suburban man kept calm even after instantly winning $500,000 in the Illinois Lottery.

Jermaine Roby, 35, of Round Lake, bought the winning Blackout Bingo ticket at a Stop and Save in Hainesville, according to a statement from the Illinois Lottery.

When he checked the scratched ticket with the self-service Lottery scanner, a message saying “File a claim” appeared on the screen.

“I asked the clerk how much I had won and he said my prize was half a million dollars,” Roby said. “Surprisingly, I was very calm about it.”

Roby, who is married with one child, said he plans to invest the money and pay his bills.

Stop and Save at 366 W. Main St.in Hainsesville received a $5,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.