Canadian says wife almost tossed winning Lotto Max ticket in the trash
A Canadian man nearly missed out on his Lotto Max windfall after his winning ticket almost ended up in the trash.
Geoffrey Halverson is a utility technician and father of three who lives in Bowmanville, Ont. He’s been a lottery player for the past 20 years, trying his luck at games such as Lotto Max and Lotto 6/49, opting to use the Quick Pick feature to choose his numbers.
“I stopped at the gas station after work, and the clerk asked if I was interested in buying a Lotto Max ticket because the jackpot was at $80 million,” Halverson recalled. “I said, ‘Sure, why not?'”
olg.ca
About a week later, Halverson’s wife was cleaning when she came across his Lotto Max ticket on the kitchen counter. She asked if she could throw it away.
“I said, ‘Wait, let me check the numbers first,'” he said. As he checked his ticket, he learned that one by one, he began matching the winning numbers.
“That’s when I realized it was a winning ticket,” Halverson stated.
His wife then downloaded the OLG app so he could scan his ticket.
“She thought I’d won $194,” he said, chuckling. “Later that day, I checked the ticket again and was shocked to see a prize of $194,000! I thought to myself, ‘Is this a joke?’”
But it was no joke — Halverson had matched the winning numbers for the Lotto Max second prize during the May 9 draw. After splitting the prize with another winner from Quebec, he was now $194,054.70 richer.
He shared the news with his wife and said, “We were thrilled and amazed. With all the excitement, we didn’t end up eating dinner. We called our family to tell them, and everyone was so happy for us.”
Winner Geoffrey Halverson (OLG)
While at the OLG Prize Centre to claim his prize, he shared, “It’s hard to believe and takes some time to process. At first, I couldn’t focus on anything because all I could think about was the winnings!”
Halverson plans to use his winnings to pay off some bills, including his car loan and mortgage. He also wants to save money for his children.
“Being a winner feels surreal and unbelievable,” he said, beaming. “It’s a very different feeling — I can’t compare it to anything else.”
Halverson purchased his winning ticket at Shell on Brock Street South in Whitby.
In an interview with Daily Hive, OLG spokesperson Tony Bitonti urged people to check and sign their tickets immediately after the draw. Or buy their ticket online.
“They have your name, email, and all that, so when you buy a ticket and win something, even a free ticket, you get an email,” he said.
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.