The $80-million Lotto Max Jackpot from a ticket sold in London, Ont., has been claimed.
Two friends from the Forest City will share in the historic prize, including an additional $403,000 for playing the Lotto Max combination play.
Greg S. and Krys P. of London immigrated to Canada from Europe in the 1990s. They said they came with the hope of a better life for them and their families.
The friends, who met decades ago in English as a Second Language (ESL) class, have been playing the lottery together for several years, only buying tickets when the jackpots are high and selecting Quick Pick numbers with an eight-number Combination Play.
When speaking with OLG officials, Greg said he checked his Lotto Max ticket the old-fashioned way, with a pen to paper.
“One-by-one I circled my numbers to see if they matched the winning numbers — until I realized I circled them all," he said.
He said when he noticed the ticket matched all the winning numbers, he told his wife he thought they had won something.
“Then I checked using the OLG app because I didn’t know how much we won,” Greg continued. “I saw the words ‘Big Winner’ and the number 80, but I didn’t believe it at first. It was unbelievable!
“I checked it again and I saw the eight, the zeros and the commas and I knew it was $80 million!” he added.
“It was the morning when Greg’s wife called to tell me the news, I had just woken up. She asked me if I checked our ticket yet. I checked it with my wife and saw we matched all the numbers. I was very happy, and very nervous too,” said Krys.
“I went over to Greg’s to check the ticket together and shake his hand. He is the one who always took the time to go to the store and buy our tickets.”
According to OLG, Greg recently retired from a manufacturing job and is proud to have never missed a day of work in 28 years.
Krys said he plans to purchase a new home and a car and hopes to travel to some tropical destinations.
“Before we do anything, I want to take my time and get advice from the right people. I don’t want to go crazy. I want to listen to my team and make sure we’re setting things up properly for future generations,” he said.
“We came to Canada many years ago in search of the Canadian dream and a better life. Over these years, we have worked hard and built lives we are proud of. We have been fortunate to own our homes and provide our children with education and opportunities for the future,” Greg added.
“Still, we have always enjoyed dreaming bigger and have been playing the lottery for many years. Winning this prize feels unimaginable — it’s amazing!”
The $80-million winning Lotto Max ticket was purchased at Happy Day’s Mini Mart on Aldersbrook Road in London.
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