$12M lottery win has Canadian financial planner rethinking retirement plans
A Canadian lottery player says that a major win has completely changed his original retirement timeline.
Bradley V. is a 47-year-old father of three who lives in Peterborough, Ont. He recently bought a life-changing lottery ticket online, and recalled checking his email one Sunday morning when he noticed a message from OLG.
“I logged into my OLG.ca account to investigate further and thought there had to be a mistake,” said Bradley, who works as a financial planner.
“I put on my reading glasses and checked the information again. Eventually, I realized it was legitimate, and the win was real. I was in disbelief and couldn’t focus for the rest of the day.”
It was no mistake — Bradley managed to match the winning numbers 57357280-01 in the June 6 Lotto 6/49 draw to win the $12-million Gold Ball jackpot.
@atlanticlottery/Instagram
He said when he showed the screenshot of his winning ticket to his children, their mouths dropped open in shock, and they were left completely speechless.
“I also told my mother,” Bradley added with a smile. “She was overwhelmed by the news and said, ‘I have to pinch myself — I must still be dreaming!'”
While at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto, he said that the windfall will make life easier going forward.
For now, he plans to continue working; however, he added, “I hope to retire a little earlier than planned so I can spend more time enjoying life with my family.”
He said he plans to use his money to support his family. He also wants to treat himself to a new vehicle and is considering an Audi or a BMW.
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.