Harikishan Patel of Brampton, Ontario, has only been playing the lottery for a few months but is already celebrating a huge win thanks to a friend’s suggestion.
According to an Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) news release, Patel, 24, only buys tickets when he has “money in his pocket.” Recently, he took his friend’s advice and added the Encore option to his ticket.
Encore offers players 22 ways to win and can be played with most games for an extra $1. His friend’s tip paid off big time, as the Gen Z lotto player walked away with $100,000.
“I was checking my ticket on the OLG app when I saw the ‘Big Winner’ message on the screen. I was shocked and had to pause to count the zeros,” he said, adding that he couldn’t believe his win was real.
He took a screenshot of the app showing his win to let his friend know that his suggestion worked.
“It was nice to celebrate that moment with him — he was so happy for me. He gives great advice!”
The young winner added that he had “happy tears” in his eyes when he found out and “shouted and cheered.”
“I never expected a win like this; it’s such a blessing and a wonderful opportunity.”
As for what Patel plans on doing with his win, he said he wants to do something nice for his friend to thank him for the good lottery advice.
He also intends to invest in his future.
“I’ll settle into the reality of my win before deciding how to celebrate and treat myself,” he said.
His winning ticket was purchased at Canadian Tire Gas+ on McLaughlin Road North in Brampton.
If you’re hoping for a win, you might want to check your ticket because one lucky Canadian woke up $1 million richer after a successful lottery draw.
Wednesday’s Lotto 6/49 draw had a $44 million Gold Ball jackpot up for grabs. Unfortunately, the gold ball wasn’t picked, but the 18th white ball was chosen.
A lottery player in Vancouver matched the winning numbers 10565796-01 to win the $1 million White Ball prize.
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.