Stephen (Steve), who works in public service, and Giovaninna (Joanne), a retired public servant, are both regular and faithful lottery players with OLG. They enjoy playing LOTTO 6/49 and LOTTO MAX, using OLG’s Quick Pick feature to make their selections. Steve and Joanne are excited to share the news of their first big win and the joy of becoming millionaires!
“I was at the store when I used the ticket checker to see how did on our LOTTO 6/49 ticket,” said Steve, while he and Joanne visited the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to claim their windfall. “I must have scanned it at least eight times. I’d convinced myself we had won $100,000. I asked the clerk to check it for me, and she said it looked like I had won $1 million! I was frozen with disbelief as tears of joy filled my eyes.”
Immediately after learning of their win, Steve called Joanne to share the amazing news. “I could barely understand him and thought something was wrong at first,” said Joanne. As it finally started to sink in, all I could say was, ‘Are you joking? Are you sure?’ When he showed me the ticket, I burst into tears!”
“Instead of OLG, it was OMG,” Steve laughed. “We spent days in a haze of bewilderment. Now that we’ve settled into the reality of winning, we’re so happy and feeling good about our comfortable retirement years ahead. We’re just thrilled and thankful,” Steve smiled.
With their winnings, the couple plans to complete some home renovations, invest for their future, and travel. “My retirement date has been accelerated,” said Steve. “We look forward to visiting some warm, sunny beaches,” he concluded.
The winning ticket was purchased at Safeway on Arthur Street West in Thunder Bay.
OLG supports safe play and wants to keep the fun in the game. That’s why OLG is proud to be a leader in promoting responsible gambling with our globally recognized PlaySmart program.