With the holiday season just around the corner, one Canadian lottery player said Christmas will surely be special this year after winning a life-changing prize.
Michael “Mike” Ross is a skilled trades worker who lives in Capreol, Ontario. He admits that he doesn’t play the lottery often but has bought lottery tickets occasionally for several decades. Ross said that when he stops for gas, he’s often motivated to play the lottery when he sees a big jackpot up for grabs. When he purchases a ticket, he also opts for Encore.
“I stopped at a corner store to check my ticket,” he recalled. “When I scanned it using the ticket checker, I saw the ‘Big Winner’ message and a lot of zeros on the screen.”
Ross couldn’t believe that adding Encore paid off after discovering he had won a $1 million Encore prize in the June 15 Lotto 6/49 draw after he matched the winning number 3715569.
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“I was so shocked and had to scan my ticket again! I’d never seen anything like that before,” he said. “I was shaking like a leaf and had to grab something to drink because my mouth was so dry!”
He was excited to share the news with his loved ones.
“When I told my family, it was an incredible moment,” Ross stated with a smile. “Hearing the words, ‘I won a million dollars’ coming from my own mouth was surreal! It feels amazing to win. I never expected anything like this. This has been an exciting and overwhelming experience. It’s left me full of gratitude and happiness.”
While at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to claim his windfall, he said he wants to use his money to buy a new truck and a side-by-side. The rest will go towards investments.
“Winning feels like freedom — like a breath of fresh air,” said Ross. “I’m going to enjoy every moment of this and have an incredible Christmas with my family.”
The winning ticket was purchased at Shell on Regional Road 84 in Capreol.
The next Lotto 6/49 draw is set for Wednesday, November 27. The Gold Ball jackpot is worth $36 million.
All forms of gambling, including the lottery, involve risk and outcomes are based on chance. Individuals are strongly advised to gamble responsibly. If you are experiencing any signs of gambling-related issues, you can find resources here.