Canadian took over late husband's lottery routine and won $1 million
An Ontario woman is in disbelief after winning a major lottery prize.
Brampton resident Maria Vadkerty matched all seven Encore numbers in exact order in the April 30 Lotto 6/49 draw to win $1 million.
The retiree enjoys playing Lotto 6/49, Lotto Max, and Ontario 49. She began playing with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) six years ago, following the death of her husband. This is her first significant win.
“He used to play the lottery all the time. After he died, I took over his routine,ā Vadkerty shared while visiting the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to collect her winnings.
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She says she always checks her lottery tickets first thing in the morning.
āThat day, I began comparing the numbers on my ticket to the winning numbers. One by one, they began to match, and my heart started beating faster and faster,” recalled Vadkerty. “When I realized Iād matched all seven numbers, I thought to myself, āThis canāt be real.ā I couldnāt believe it!ā
The retiree intends to donate a portion of her winnings, but hasn’t made any other plans with the lottery windfall yet.
āI still canāt quite process this win. Iām stunned and beyond happy,ā she said with a smile. āThis is such a beautiful moment.ā
Vadkerty bought the winning lottery ticket at Shoppers Drug Mart on Main Street South in Brampton.
You could end up like the lucky Ontario winner. Make sure to check your tickets from Wednesday’s Lotto 6/49 draw, where someone won $5 million.
The next draw is on Saturday, June 28. There are 29 balls left to be drawn in the Gold Ball jackpot with a $12-million 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,Ā check out these resources.