Canadian’s brother asks him why he’s still working after huge Lotto Max win
An Ontario lottery player was stunned when he discovered he had won a huge Lotto Max prize.
Kenmore resident Richard McInnis matched all seven Encore numbers in the exact order in the May 6 Lotto Max draw to win $1 million.
The food service manager has been playing the lottery with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) for over 20 years. His go-to game is Lotto Max, and he only plays when the jackpot exceeds $25 million.
OLG
The father and grandfather recalls waking up at 4 a.m. to use the bathroom.
“On my way back to bed, I thought, ‘Hmm, I wonder if anyone won the $75-million Lotto Max jackpot.’ One by one, I checked my tickets, and the last one left me in shock,” McInnis recounted while visiting the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to claim his winnings.
“I said to myself, ‘Holy cow! This is unreal!’ I had to check my ticket about 20 times,” he added with a laugh.
McInnis couldn’t believe his eyes, so he asked a friend to confirm what he was seeing.
“I showed him my phone and said, ‘Check this and tell me what it says.’ His jaw nearly hit the floor when he looked at it. Then he shouted, ‘Richard, you’re a millionaire!’”
The food service worker told his close family about his unexpected Lotto Max windfall soon after.
“Everyone was so happy for me, and my brother asked me why I’m still working,” he chuckled.
The lottery win still doesn’t feel real to McInnis.
“I don’t think it’ll fully set in until the money’s in my bank account,” he said.
With his Lotto Max prize, McInnis plans to pay off bills, buy his brother a car, and invest.
“This win will definitely make retirement easier,” he concluded.
He bought the winning lottery ticket at Shoppers Drug Mart on Memorial Avenue in Thunder Bay.
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.