18-year-old who needed another ID to claim lottery prize takes driving test
As if winning the lottery at a young age isn’t impressive enough, one winner also managed to pass the driving test. The reason: they needed a second form of identification to claim the prize.
Ella Samojlenko is an 18-year-old student who lives in Kanata, a suburban district of Ottawa. Samojlenko stopped at a Circle K and bought a lottery ticket as a birthday present for a friend. While there, they made what would turn out to be a truly lucky decision.
“I decided to buy some Instant tickets for my friend’s birthday – so I purchased one for myself and one for my friend,” they said.
Instant Bingo tickets/olg.ca
After playing an Instant Bingo ticket, Samojlenko scanned the ticket and couldn’t believe the result.
“I checked my ticket on the OLG App and was surprised to see I won $50,000!” they said.
Samojlenko hurried to tell the family, all of whom were “in disbelief.”
“I never thought it was possible to win,” said Samojlenko. “I was also in disbelief — I never thought it was possible to win.”
But there was a catch: a second form of identification was required to claim the prize.
“I didn’t have two pieces of identification, so I took my driver’s test before coming to the prize centre,” said Samojlenko. “I’m so excited — I won the lottery, and I got my driver’s license within 24 hours!”
Samojlenko already has plans for their winnings.
“I will invest most of it into stocks and maybe some into a future tattoo business,” they said while at the OLG Prize Centre to pick up the big cheque. “I’m so excited – it feels unreal!”
Samojlenko purchased the winning ticket at Circle K on Eagleson Road in Kanata.