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Man hits $20M jackpot on first scratch ticket he's played

Talk about beginner’s luck. A man who said he has never played a lottery scratch-off ticket won the big prize.

The ticket buyer has played the lottery before, but stuck to the Lucky Day Lotto for 18 years. A persistent co-worker tried to get him to buy an instant ticket, but he always said no, WMAQ reported.

So he plunked down $20 for a 20x20 ticket, meaning he could have won $20,000 a week for 20 years. If he won, he'd rake in more than $20 million before taxes, according to WMAQ.

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And guess what, he won the top prize, WBBM reported.

The store where he purchased the ticket also walked away with some cash, to the tune of $208,000, WMAQ reported.

The man, whose name was not released, will use the money to buy a house and start a business.

“This winning ticket is my chance at living the American dream,” he told

officials.

FILE PHOTO: An Illinois man said he played his first scratch off ticket and won $20,000 a week for 20 years.