LUCK OF THE DRAW: Trio of Ontario lottery players hit the jackpot
Mississauga retiree Carlos Nicolas has varied plans for the $1 million he scored playing Lotto Max last month.
The father of three matched all seven Encore numbers in exact order in the March 21 draw and says he was shocked to find out he won.
'I went to the store and scanned my Lotto Max ticket using the ticket checker,' Nicolas told the OLG.
'When I saw the prize amount, I was amazed and asked the clerk to validate it. A man behind me said, 'Congratulations on winning $1 million!' I was very excited and shocked that I'd won.
'I headed home and revealed the incredible news to my wife. She was overwhelmed and in disbelief. She called our kids, and they were just as surprised.'
As for his windfall plans, he says, 'I will invest for my retirement, pay some bills, travel, and share with my kids.'
The winning ticket was bought at Stop & Go Convenience on Eglinton Ave. W. in Mississauga.
Richard Borgatti of Welland, Ont., won $350,000 in the Instant Crossword Extreme. (OLG)
It's taken two decades but Welland health-care worker Richard Borgatti won a $350,000 top prize with Instant Crossword Extreme.
The father of two and grandfather of one has been playing the lottery a couple times a week for 20 years and is delighted about his first big win.
'I hadn't noticed my win until I scanned my ticket using the store's ticket checker,' Borgatti told OLG.
'I thought I'd won $3,500, and I was shocked. When I realized I'd actually won $350,000, I was in total disbelief. It was a very happy feeling. When I told my wife the news, of course, she didn't believe me. I had to get the store owner on the phone to convince her.
Borgatti says travel is in the cards.
'Winning is an incredible feeling, like a weight lifted off my shoulders,' he said to OLG.
'My wife and I will travel to China to visit my son, who lives there. I'll also spoil my grandchild, and I plan to retire.'
The winning ticket was bought at Best Mart on Rice Rd. in Welland.
Northern Ontario health-care worker Jennifer Del Papa only plays the lottery occasionally so she's thrilled about her $175,000 win with The Big Spin Instant game.
A walk to the store with her son and their dog led her to The Big Spin Wheel.
'It was around Christmas time, and I was enjoying the holidays with my family,' the Capreol woman told OLG.
'My son and I took our dog for a walk, and while we were out, I decided to pick up a The Big Spin ticket. When we got back home, I played my ticket and realized I'd won a Spinprize.'
So she went back.
'I returned to the store with my son, expecting to win maybe $20,' Del Papa told OLG.
'When the lottery terminal froze, it was surreal and unbelievable. My son kept saying, 'You won!' but I couldn't wrap my head around it. I've been anticipating this moment for a few weeks. I was so focused on how to spin the wheel that I don't even know what I was feeling in that moment. I just knew I needed to grab that wheel and gun it! I can't believe I won $175,000!'
Otherwise, Del Papa's going to let her win soak in before she decides what to do with it.
'This experience has been so fun and exciting,' she told OLG.
'The best part of the day was having my son and my husband here to cheer me on. I'm in no rush to spend my winnings. I want to put some thought into it before making any decisions, although today, we'll celebrate with ice cream.'
The winning ticket was bought at Shell on Regional Road 84 in Capreol.
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