Canadian celebrates second lottery win in three years
Can’t even win a Free Play? Well, one very lucky Canadian lottery player is celebrating after winning twice in just three years.
In 2022, Ellias Korkontzilas and his friend Tatjana Tesla won an impressive prize in Pools, a sports betting game that can be played online or in person. At the time, the friends opted for a football game during the NFL season. Tesla described the game as “a real nail-biter.”
However, Korkontzilas learned about their win the following day, and stated, “I woke up the next morning to check the ticket and it felt surreal.”
The pair won $159,104, and when they claimed their winnings at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto, they stated that they would use their windfall to travel and donate some to charity.
Tatjana Tesla and Ellias Korkontzilas in 2022 (OLG)
Three years later, Korkontzilas found himself returning to the prize centre after winning yet again.
The East York resident is back, this time with a solo win. Korkontzilas, 49, who works in real estate, said he’s been playing the lottery for 15 years and plays a variety of games such as Poker Lotto, Megadice Lotto, and Lightning Lotto. One day, he decided to try his luck again by buying a Poker Lotto ticket.
“I bought this ticket as part of my weekly routine,” he recalled. “When I purchased it, the terminal screen instantly said, ‘Big Winner.’ I was shocked and excited at the same time.”
Turns out he had won the Poker Lotto All In jackpot worth $59,041.20 on June 15, 2025. In addition, he won $5,000 in the instant portion, bringing his total winnings to $64,041.20.
Ellias Korkontzilas celebrating his second win (OLG)
Korkontzilas said he called his mother to share the news.
“She was surprised and very happy for me,” he said, adding that he plans to save his winnings.
He added, “Being a winner feels surreal.”
The winning ticket was purchased at Esso/Circle K on Danforth Avenue 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.