Canadian barber's dream about huge lottery win during a nap comes true
An Ontario lottery player manifested his first big prize.
Ottawa resident Hassan Abdul-Hussein anted up and went all in to win the Poker Lotto All In jackpot worth $167,538.70 on May 31, 2025. On top of that, he won $5,000 on the instant portion of his Poker Lotto play, bringing his total winnings to $172,538.70.
The barbershop worker has been playing with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) for several years. His favourite games include Poker Lotto, Lotto Max, Lotto 6/49, and Lottario.
OLG
This is the married father of two’s first major lottery win, and it shows how some dreams literally come true.
“One day, I won $350 on a ticket. The next day, I took a nap and had a dream that I won again,” Abdul-Hussein recalled, while visiting the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to collect his winnings. “When I woke up, I went to the store and bought a couple more tickets, including this Poker Lotto play.”
He watched closely as his Poker Lotto hand was dealt on the customer display screen. One by one, the cards revealed a Royal Flush.
“The cashier was shocked and told me I’d won $172,000,” he recounted with a smile. “I was in disbelief!”
When he returned home, Abdul-Hussein told the amazing news to his wife.
“At first, she thought I was joking,” he said with a chuckle. “When she realized I was being serious, she was thrilled.”
The barber plans to buy real estate with his lottery windfall.
Reflecting on the experience, he said, “Being a winner is so exciting — you can do so much with a win like this. I’m very happy and thankful. It feels like my dream came true!”
Abdul-Hussein bought his winning lottery ticket at Proxi on Merivale Road in Nepean.
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.