Canadian chooses lump sum after winning $100,000 a year in lottery
One Canadian lottery player may have won big, but he has no immediate plans to slow down despite his recent good fortune.
Robert Roche, 64, of Glenfanning, P.E.I, was on his way to help a family member when he unknowingly purchased the lucky ticket.
“It was a pretty ordinary day for me. I had decided to head east to help my aunt,” he recalled. “A snowstorm was coming, and I wanted to make sure she had brought up some firewood from the basement.”
On the way there, he stopped at Elliot’s General Store in Souris, where he purchased a couple of Super Winner for Life tickets for $20.
“It was with one of those tickets that I won the jackpot,” he said.
When he checked his ticket, he said that the retailer told him that he had won a large prize. To his surprise, Roche won the game’s top prize: $100,000 a year for 20 years.
“I was very happy. When the machine displayed the prize I had won, I went to my truck and started shaking a little,” he said. “I put the ticket in my pocket, where it still is.”
Rather than choosing annuity payments, Roche opted for the lump sum: a cool $1.5 million.
Atlantic Lottery
While claiming his windfall, he shared that he plans to go house-hunting. He also wants to buy a car for his daughter and perhaps even explore the Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia. Despite being a millionaire, he wants to keep doing what he enjoys: fixing other people’s cars. His win means he’ll be able to do so in the comfort of a garage in his new house.
“I’ll be able to work in the warmth, no more working outside,” Roche said.
He said that he’s the type to keep himself busy.
“I don’t think it will change my life much,” he said. “I think I’ll stay true to myself and do what I do. I’ll go back to work and try to have a good time.”
The retailer will receive an amount equal to one percent of the winnings.
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.