A few lucky Ontario lottery players are celebrating winning $1 million together and looking forward to enjoying some travels.
Two best friends from Ontario, Katherine (Kathy) and Ginette have been playing the lottery with their husbands as a group of four for 20 years.
Though Ginette and Kathy are childhood friends who’ve seen each other “through life’s ups and downs,” their husbands, Randal and Leslie, have also become buddies.
On October 25, the couples won $1 million after matching all seven Encore numbers in the right order.
Leslie picked the numbers for the Lotto Max and Lotto 6/49 tickets. His process focused on important birthdays and anniversaries. He bought tickets at a Circle K location.
The group from Sudbury and McKerrow visited OLG’s Prize Centre in Toronto to pick up their giant cheque and share their story.
“I was at home scanning our ticket on the OLG app. When I saw that we had won $1 million, I nearly had a heart attack and narrowly avoided spilling my coffee,” Leslie recalled. “I shouted so loudly that Kathy heard the commotion and came running downstairs to see what had happened.”
“When Leslie showed me how much we’d won, I was so shocked,” said Kathy. “All I could do was stand there and stare at him in disbelief.”
And then it was time to tell the other couple.
“I was half asleep when Leslie called to share the news. As soon as he told me we’d won, I was wide awake,” Randall laughed.
Ginette thought Leslie was messing with them.
“I couldn’t believe it! I was sure Leslie was joking around since he loves a good prank,” she shared. “This win is a blessing, and I’m thrilled for Leslie and Kathy.”
Leslie called the $1 lottery win “one heck of an early Christmas present!”
“It’s a great bonus, especially around the holidays,” Randal echoed.
The couples believe the win came at a perfect time and look forward to sharing their prize with their children and spending it on travel.
Both couples look forward to travelling and plan to share their winnings with their children.
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