Trucking dispatcher and mom of two split Lotto 6/49 prize
February 22, 2025, was an extremely lucky day for several Canadians who ended up splitting a Lotto 6/49 prize.
At the time, the Gold Ball prize was worth $18 million, and someone from Quebec won the $1 million White Ball prize. Although there were no winners for the $5 million Classic Draw prize, three people matched the winning numbers, netting themselves the second prize.
According to PlayNow, two tickets were sold in Ontario, while the third was sold in Western Canada. Meet two of the lottery players who recently took home their share of the winnings.
“Winning this prize was quite a shock”
Damien Bradley of Waterloo, Ont. (OLG)
It took 10 years for lottery player Damien Bradley to finally win big. The trucking dispatcher from Waterloo, Ont., plays Lotto 6/49 twice a week and always uses the same numbers.
“I usually check my tickets when I go to the store to pick up new ones for the next draw,” said Bradley. “That day, when I scanned my Lotto 6/49 ticket and saw the prize amount on the screen, I was shocked to discover I’d won big! I scanned it again to make sure I was seeing the prize amount correctly.”
Bradley discovered that he was one of the three people who had won the second prize — he was now $68,388.50 richer. When he got home, he told his partner that she needed to sit down as he had some news.
“I then showed her a picture of the lottery terminal screen displaying the prize I’d won. She was thrilled!” he recalled.
Bradley said that the win was “quite a shock.”
As for what he plans to do with his share, he said, “It helps relieve some financial burden. I plan to pay some bills, and I look forward to taking a vacation.”
The winning ticket was purchased at Bridgeport Variety on Bloomingdale Road North in Kitchener.
“I won this prize two days before my birthday!”
Brittany Hance of Oshawa, Ont. (OLG)
Mom-of-two Brittany Hance has been playing the lottery since she was of legal age. The Oshawa, Ont. resident said she enjoys playing Lotto 6/49 and Lotto Max and, unlike Bradley, uses the Quick Pick feature to choose her numbers.
One Sunday morning, her husband reminded her to check her tickets.
“When I scanned my Lotto 6/49, I realized it was a winning ticket!” recalled Hance. When she shared the news with her mom, she reminded her to sign her ticket immediately. It took a bit more effort to convince her husband of her win.
“He thought I was joking and told me to send him a screenshot as proof,” she said. “When he saw the ‘Big Winner’ message, he was speechless.”
While at the OLG Prize Centre to claim her $68,388.50 prize, Hance said that the win came at a special time.
“It kind of feels like a gift since I won this prize two days before my birthday,” she shared. She said she plans to put her winnings towards purchasing her first home.
The winning ticket was purchased at Petro-Canada on Taunton Road East in Oshawa.
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.