Lottery player thought she won $10,000, but it was a much bigger prize
A Canadian lottery player was in disbelief after discovering that her win wasn’t just real but that it was bigger than she imagined.
Ivanka Zaradic is a mother of two who lives in Woodbridge, Ont. A regular lottery player for decades, Zaradic said that buying lottery tickets is part of her weekly routine, and that she enjoys playing Lotto 6/49. And when she does play, she uses the Quick Pick feature to choose her numbers.
An ordinary workday turned into a memorable one when she found out that she had won big.
“After work one day, I went to the lottery terminal at my workplace to have my ticket validated,” Zaradic recalled. “When I discovered I’d won big, I lost it. I was so shocked that I instantly turned red and began to shake.”
She found out that she had won $10,000 — or so she thought.
“I thought I’d won $10,000 until the clerk said, ‘Congrats on winning $100,000!’ I said, ‘No way — this can’t be real!'” she said.
Winner Ivanka Zaradic (OLG)
It turns out that Zaradic had matched the last six of seven Encore numbers in exact order in the May 10 Lotto 6/49 draw, netting herself a $100,000 prize.
She shared the happy news with her coworkers, stating, “They were all so happy for me and told me I deserved this win.”
While at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to pick up her $100,000 cheque, Zaradic said that she’ll use her windfall to save for a comfortable retirement.
“I feel so grateful and beyond fortunate,” she shared.
The winning ticket was purchased at Pioneer/Snack Express on Wellington Road 109 in Arthur.
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.