PALOS HEIGHTS, IL – For someone who only plays the Illinois Lottery a few times a year, Kirk Kroese has unbelievable luck. Within the last year alone, the 40-year-old entrepreneur’s Lottery purchases have resulted in $1,000 and $100 wins. Of course, those sums pale in comparison to Kirk’s latest bit of good fortune – $100,000.

Kirk decided to take a chance on a $20 instant ticket after recently filling up at a gas station. “I play instant tickets because I think they have better odds,” he explained. After scratching off his Double My Million ticket, Kirk saw that he had uncovered a money bag icon, indicating that he had won a prize. “When I saw that the amount was $100,000 I was dumbfounded,” Kirk said. “I asked the clerk to verify the ticket and he looked stunned, so I knew it was really happening.”

After leaving the store, Kirk called his parents and his wife, but no one in his family believed him. “Everyone thought I was joking so, I haven’t told anyone else,” he said. “I’m just going to put the money into my savings and keep it nice and quiet. My family owns a few businesses that are doing well, so I’m just going to continue running my company.”

Although he doesn’t have any big plans for his winnings, Kirk did take his family out for a celebration dinner, and he plans on keeping his Lottery winning streak alive. “I’m definitely going to keep playing the higher-priced instant games and I might even start playing more often,” he said.

When asked to give advice to his fellow Lottery players, Kirk added, “Have fun but play responsibly. And you can’t go wrong with instant tickets.” Palos Petroleum, located at 12301 S. 80th Avenue in Palos Park, Ill., will receive 1 percent of the total prize, or $1,000, for selling the winning ticket.