Canadian wins massive lottery prize using same numbers he's played for decades
An Ontario man stuck with his lucky lottery numbers, and it finally paid off in a big way.
Woodbridge resident Nicola Imineo won a Lotto 6/49 prize worth $1 million in the Gold Ball Draw on July 19.
The husband and father has been playing with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) for decades. His go-to games are Lotto Max and Lotto 6/49.
Over the years, the retiree has won a number of small prizes, but nothing could have prepared him for becoming an overnight millionaire.
“I won this prize with the same set of numbers I always play. It’s a mix of special birthdays and my favourite numbers,” he shared while visiting the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to collect his winnings. “I like to replay my numbers for a chance to win big.”
OLG
One day, Imineo went to one of his regular stores to check his lottery ticket. He didn’t know it yet, but he was manifesting a massive win.
“Before I went in, I thought to myself, ‘What if this is the big one?’” he recalled.
“I went up to the cashier to have my ticket validated and asked to replay the same numbers. When they scanned my ticket and realized it was a big winner, they were freaking out more than I was!” he added with a laugh.
Imineo broke the amazing news to his wife first.
“She was out shopping at the time, so I waited until she got home and said, ‘I have something to tell you.’ She couldn’t believe it,” he said.
It just so happened that the family already had a lunch planned for that day, giving Imineo the perfect opportunity to share the life-changing news with his kids.
“They were in disbelief too,” he recalled with a smile. “My daughter had to check my ticket on the OLG app to make sure it was true.”
The retiree has some big plans with his lottery winnings. He wants to take a well-deserved vacation and share his windfall with his family.
“We’re going to take our time to enjoy this win,” he said, beaming. “All the kids are out buying tickets now!”
Imineo bought his lucky lottery ticket at Hasty Market on Major MacKenzie Drive West in Woodbridge.
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.