One young Canadian lottery player couldn’t believe her luck after discovering she had won a quarter-million-dollar prize.
Mackenzie Byvelds is a 21-year-old post-secondary student who lives in Little Britain, Ontario. She said she’s been playing the lottery since she was 19 and buys tickets for Instant Crossword Deluxe, a game with a $250,000 top prize that costs $10 per play. An occasional lottery player, nothing could have prepared her for her first big win.
“One of our family traditions is gifting each other lottery tickets,” explained Byvelds, who received an Instant Crossword Deluxe ticket as a gift. “On Christmas Day, my family and I played our tickets together, and I thought I’d won $50 on mine.”
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However, a closer look revealed that she won much more than just $50.
“I was so happy to have won that, but soon I realized I’d actually won the $250,000 top prize!” she said. “I was beyond excited, as were my parents.”
While at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to claim her cheque, Byvelds said winning is “a crazy feeling.” She also shared what she plans to do with her $250,000 windfall.
“This prize will go a long way. I look forward to buying a car, paying my student loans, and investing for my future,” she shared. “I think this will go down as the best Christmas gift I ever receive in my entire life.”
The winning ticket was purchased at Valentia General Store on Elm Tree Road in Little Britain.
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, check out these resources.