Nigel, a retired schoolteacher, is no stranger to winning big. The 63-year-old said he has won other times — once in 2014 and again in 2019 — making this his third major win!

He said he discovered his win while playing his ticket at his favourite store. “I had my ticket validated and pumped my fist in the air!” he shared while at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to collect his winnings.

When asked what it’s like to win the lottery for a third time, Nigel said, “It feels surreal. I’m living my dream.”

With his windfall, he plans to vacation in Honduras and purchase an ATV.

INSTANT CASH IN MULTI-WIN is available for $50 a play and the top prize is $50,000. Odds of winning any prize are 1 in 3.18. Visit the INSTANT page on OLG.ca for more information on this and other great games.

The winning ticket was purchased at McKellar General Store on Centre Road in McKellar.

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ENCORE offers 22 ways to win and can be played in conjunction with most lottery games for an extra $1. There are two ENCORE draws every day.

The winning ticket was purchased at Daisy Mart on Main Street in Penetanguishene.

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Crystal, who works in retail, said she’s been playing the lottery with OLG for over 30 years. She plays every Wednesday and Saturday, with her go-to games being ONTARIO 49 and LOTTO 6/49.

Crystal checked her ticket at the store and discovered her big win. “I freaked out!” she said while at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to collect her windfall. “I was in disbelief and thought to myself, ‘This can’t be real!’”

“I shared the news with my boss, and he was very happy for me,” she continued. “I also told my husband, and he was shocked — he couldn’t believe it either!”

With her winnings, Crystal plans to pay some bills. “I also want to go to Australia with my husband to visit family,” she concluded with a smile.

ENCORE offers 22 ways to win and can be played in conjunction with most lottery games for an extra $1. There are two ENCORE draws every day.

The winning ticket was purchased at Sara’s Mini Mart on Seguin Street in Parry Sound.

OLG supports safe play and wants to keep the fun in the game. That’s why OLG is proud to be a leader in promoting responsible gambling with our globally recognized PlaySmart program.

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 The holidays are all about sharing joy and surprises with family and friends. But when it comes to lottery tickets for kids, it’s time to channel your inner Grinch. Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) reminds parents and caregivers that lottery tickets are a form of gambling and should never be given to children or minors.

It’s easy to think of lottery tickets as a quick, fun stocking stuffer — but they’re designed for adults. Just like the Grinch learned that the holiday season isn’t about things, we need to remember that holiday cheer doesn’t come from risky gifts. Joy in “Whoville” comes from togetherness — not from introducing children to habits that can lead to problems long after the holidays. If you’re buying lottery products as gifts, make sure those who receive them are at least 18 years or older.

Why does this matter? Research shows that early exposure to gambling can increase the risk of future problems. That’s why OLG and its partners offer free resources to help families make informed choices:

• YMCA Youth Gambling Awareness Program (YGAP) – A free service funded by Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care that educates youth on gambling risks and promotes healthy decision-making.
• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) – Gambling, Gaming and Technology Use Program – Offers tools and training for service providers addressing problem gambling, gaming, and internet addiction.
• Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) – An independent non-profit providing information on gambling prevention, including resources for teens and young adults. 

You can also visit PlaySmart.ca, OLG’s education hub, for easy-to-understand facts about games, odds, and randomness — plus links to support services.

This message is part of OLG’s ongoing support for the Holiday Campaign led by the National Council on Problem Gambling and the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL), promoting the global reminder that lottery products are never suitable for children — during the holidays or any time of year. So, keep your “holiday heart three sizes too big” with family, kindness, and memories — and by saying “no” to risky gifts such as lottery tickets for children.

Celebrating 50 years of wins and giving back! OLG is a crown agency that contributes to a better Ontario by delivering great entertainment experiences for our customers. Acting in a socially responsible way, OLG conducts and manages land-based gaming facilities; the sale of province-wide lottery games; Internet gaming; and the delivery of bingo and other electronic gaming products at Charitable Gaming Centres. OLG is also helping support the horse racing industry in Ontario.  OLG has been giving back to Ontario since 1975, generating approximately $62 billion for the people and the Province to support key government priorities like health care; the treatment and prevention of problem gambling; and support for amateur athletes. Each year profits from OLG’s operations also support host communities, Ontario First Nations, lottery retailers and local charities across the province.

Play for Ontario – 100 per cent of OLG’s profits are invested in Ontario

OLG.ca

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On Wednesday, July 2, 2025, an individual claimed a $1 million Lotto Max Free Play ticket with Encore as a sole claimant and received payment from Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG). The OLG Forensic Investigation Unit received and reviewed claims suggesting the winnings may have resulted from a group play arrangement. The case was referred to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Investigation and Enforcement Bureau (IEB), attached to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).

In September 2025, officers from the OPP IEB, with support from the OLG, launched an investigation which confirmed that the ticket was part of a group arrangement. The winnings should have been shared among three individuals, not a single person.

On Wednesday, November 19, 2025, Alex Parucha, 70 years old of Toronto, was arrested and charged with the following:

·      Theft Over $5,000

·      Fraud Over $5,000

·      Possession of property obtained by crime, s. 354CC (1)(a)

The accused was released from custody and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Toronto on Thursday, January 8, 2026.

Anyone with any information is encouraged to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.

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The group members are:

Clarence Kennedy of Angus

Kenneth Maw of Barrie

Kurt Lawler of Barrie

The three retirees, who all used to work together, enjoy playing LOTTO 6/49 and LOTTO MAX as a group. It was Clarence’s turn to purchase the ticket, and he happened to have another ticket that had to be checked. “When I saw the screen said BIG WINNER, it was like a dream. I couldn’t believe it,” he shared while at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to pick up their windfall.

“He called me to share the news, and it took a while to believe it,” Kenneth said.

“I said, ‘Are you kidding me?’” Kurt added.

The group members all had similar reactions to their big win – they were shaking in disbelief!

Clarence, Kenneth and Kurt all shared the news about the win with their wives, who were also very shocked and overwhelmed, but very happy.

With his share of the winnings, Clarence plans to invest, treat himself to a new mustang and help out his grandchildren. Kenneth plans to go to Ireland to relax and help out his grandchildren. Kurt also plans to help out his children and grandchildren.

LOTTO 6/49 offers players a chance to win two multi-million dollar jackpots every Wednesday and Saturday, for the same $3 per play.

The Classic Draw offers a fixed $5 million jackpot for every draw, while the Gold Ball Draw guarantees a $1 million prize, or the growing jackpot that starts at $10 million and can exceed $60 million. Click here for more information about the new LOTTO 6/49.

The winning ticket was purchased at CNIB on Bayfield Street in Barrie.

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Ralph said he’s been playing the lottery with OLG for about 30 years, and this past spring, he started purchasing his tickets on OLG.ca. That way, he wouldn’t have to worry about forgetting to check his tickets before they expired.

“I was on my lunch break and noticed I had an email saying I won big. I completely missed it for 10 days,” he said while at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to collect his winnings. “My brain was a little foggy at the time. I logged into my OLG.ca account right away to make sure it was real and wasn’t some sort of AI-generated phishing email.”

Ralph then shared the exciting news with one of his coworkers and his sister. “My sister didn’t believe me at first,” he laughed.

With his windfall, Ralph plans to pay some bills, put a down payment on a new house, and invest. He also looks forward to getting back into skiing. “This amount changes my life,” he concluded with a smile.

DAILY GRAND is a national lottery game with a top prize of $1,000 a day for life for matching the five main numbers plus the Grand Number. The second prize is $25,000 a year for life for matching the five main numbers. DAILY GRAND is $3 per play and draws take place on Mondays and Thursdays. Visit the DAILY GRAND page on OLG.ca for more information.

The winning ticket was purchased on OLG.ca.

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Dale, a retiree, said he discovered his win while checking his ticket at the convenience store. “It was a shock, and it brought me to tears,” he recalled while at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to collect his winnings.

The 63-year-old said he only shared the news with his running buddy. “I told him while we were out running. He stopped and gave me a huge round of applause,” Dale said with a smile.

“This win is a game changer!” he continued. “It’s like being reborn. Thinking about it still makes me cry — I’m just beside myself.”

Dale plans to put his windfall toward buying a new home.

LOTTARIO launched in 1978 as Ontario’s first terminal lotto game. Tickets are $1 and the draws take place every Saturday. Tickets purchased before 11:59 p.m. on Fridays are eligible for the Early Bird draw. Visit the LOTTARIO page on OLG.ca for more information.

The winning ticket was purchased at Food Mart on Westney Road North in Ajax.

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The 63-year-old retiree said he’s been playing the lottery for over 20 years, and this is his first major win. “I usually play LOTTO MAX, but I decided to try this game out since it was a special draw,” he shared while at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to pick up his winnings.

Donald found out about his big win while checking his tickets at the store. “I said, ‘Oh, wow! This is real!’ It was so exciting,” he recalled with a smile.

He shared the news with his two daughters, who couldn’t believe it either. “They were so surprised and happy for me.”

With his windfall, Donald plans to save for the future.

To celebrate OLG’s 50^th anniversary and commemorate its very first lottery game, WINTARIO, OLG introduced WINTARIO50. This limited-time, raffle-style lottery game was available until the one-time draw on August 14, 2025. WINTARIO50 offered one play for $5 or three plays for $10 and included 100 Guaranteed Top Prizes of $50,000. Click here for more information about WINTARIO 50.

The winning ticket was purchased at Capstone Market on King William Street in Huntsville.

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The couple said they’ve been playing the lottery together for about six years. After dropping their daughters off at camp, they remembered to check their tickets using the OLG app.

They had to double-check their winning ticket a couple of times before believing it was real. Then they started jumping up and down and hugging each other.

Meaghan and Ryan said they waited until their daughters were home from camp to share the exciting news. “There was lots of screaming,” Meaghan said with a laugh. “It’s pretty cool,” Ryan added.

They plan to put their win toward renovating their kitchen.

To celebrate OLG’s 50^th anniversary and commemorate its very first lottery game, WINTARIO, OLG introduced WINTARIO50. This limited-time, raffle-style lottery game was available until the one-time draw on August 14, 2025. WINTARIO50 offered one play for $5 or three plays for $10 and included 100 Guaranteed Top Prizes of $50,000. Click here for more information about WINTARIO 50.

The winning ticket was purchased at Esso on Highway 27 in Phelpston.

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