Retired Canadian's birthday gift leads him to HUGE lottery win
A lottery player from Ontario received what will probably be one of the best birthday presents in his lifetime.
Hamilton resident John Hill is $200,000 richer after winning a top prize with Instant Ruby Solitaire.
The retiree has been playing the lottery with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) for nearly 50 years. His go-to games are Lotto Max and a variety of Instant tickets.
OLG
The father of two and grandfather of three’s first big win was thanks to a thoughtful birthday gift.
“My wife went to the gas station to pump gas and bought two tickets for me,” he said, while visiting the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to claim his winnings. “She gifted this ticket to me on my birthday.”
That morning, Hill played his lottery ticket and discovered he was a winner.
I checked it using the OLG app on my tablet and was shocked to see the winning amount,” he recalled. “I immediately went to my wife and showed her the ticket. She was just as surprised as I was and scanned it using her phone, just to be sure. We were both very surprised and happy!”
His wife then broke the amazing news to their kids.
“At first, they didn’t believe it,” John said with a chuckle. “When they realized it was true, they were so excited.”
With no significant plans for his lottery prize, Hill intends to save his winnings for the time being.
“I feel very grateful to be a winner,” he continued. “It’s something you never expect will happen to you.”
The winning lottery ticket was purchased at Pioneer/On the Run on Upper Paradise Road in Hamilton.
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.