Canadian using huge Lotto Max second prize to become debt-free

An Ontario woman was in disbelief after winning a hefty Lotto Max second prize.

East Gwillimbury resident Lucinda Themelis won $216,083.90 in the Lotto Max draw on June 27.

The administrative assistant has been playing with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) for decades. She enjoys Lotto Max, Lotto 6/49 and Lottario, always adding Encore to her tickets.

Themelis sometimes chooses her own numbers and other times uses OLG’s Quick Pick feature, which paid off.

“I won this prize on additional Quick Pick lines on my Lotto Max ticket,” she shared, while visiting the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to collect her winnings. “I checked my tickets using the OLG app and saw the ‘Big Winner’ message on the screen. It was so shocking. I thought to myself, ‘No, no, no, no, no — this can’t be right!’”

OLG

She asked a family member to double-check the ticket on their phone.

“I needed another person to say, ‘Yes, I’m seeing the same thing,’” she said with a chuckle.

It was an emotional rollercoaster for Themelis.

“When they confirmed it was real, I was filled with happiness and excitement. The gratitude was overwhelming!” she recalled. “As the news settled in, I cried happy tears and started laughing. Then I shared a big hug with my family.”

The lottery player has important plans for her Lotto Max windfall. She plans to save for the future, invest and take care of an unexpected vet visit for her beloved family pet.

“I plan to use this win to become debt-free,” she smiled.

Themelis also wants to treat her mom to a trip she’s been wanting to take for years.

“It feels amazing to be able to make her travel dreams come true,” she said.

The admin assistant reiterated how grateful she is for this win.

“I feel so fortunate that a big win like this has come my way. This is an incredible blessing, and I am so thankful,” she concluded.

The winning Lotto Max ticket was purchased at Gateway Newstand on Front Street West in Toronto.

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.