Latest news with #OntarioLotteryandGamingCorporation
Hamilton Spectator
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
RGC advises sports fans to know and manage the risks when gambling as Stanley Cup finals loom
As many as 39 per cent of Ontarians betting on the Stanley Cup playoffs are betting more than they can afford and 25 per cent admit borrowing money or selling items to come up with gambling funds. Those are numbers from a survey by the Responsible Gambling Council, an independent not-for-profit organization dedicated to problem gambling prevention. It is partially funded by the provincial ministry of health and long-term care and Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. The survey reports 59 per cent of Ontarians said they are watching the playoffs and 41 per cent of that group is expected to wager on one or more of the games. Melissa Toney, RGC associate director of prevention programs, said gambling is a form of entertainment many people will enjoy without becoming a problem gambler. According to the survey, 38 per cent of respondents are concerned they are a problem gambler and 27 per cent report feeling mental health effects from stress or anxiety related to betting. Toney cites a number of risk factors which can lead to problems including the illusion that knowledge of a sport can help predict outcomes, the adrenalin rush from a big game or a winning bet, substance use and persuasive advertising. Those at greatest risk are males aged 18 to 24 who are moving into a stage of more independence in life. 'From a science perspective the prefrontal cortex of their brain isn't fully developed yet,' said Toney. 'When it comes to risk taking and those types of behaviours, the decision-making piece isn't fully developed.' The proliferation of sports betting since it was legalized in Ontario in April 2022, the onslaught of advertising and the embrace of it by sports organizations and media has made sports and sports betting seem synonymous, said Toney. 'When you have people who are really into sports who feel they know the game and they feel they will be able to make wagers that are going to be positive for them, you just have a tendency to bet a little bit more and more aggressively,' she said. 'That's when the challenges happen. When you're chasing losses. When you're not being mindful of how many online envelopes you are using or platforms that make these bets. You can now make in-play bets and all kinds of bets within the game. You can bet 24 hours a day. It has just become so easy.' She says knowing the risks and having strategies to manage the risk is the key to keeping gambling fun. 'We're not telling people that they shouldn't bet. We just want people to be mindful of why they are betting. What kind of mind frame emotionally and mentally they are at when they are betting so that they can make better decisions. We are giving people tips on how to keep the fun in the game,' she said. It's also important to understand the odds are not in your favour. 'Whether you are in a land-based casino or you are playing online the house is set to win. That's how it works. It's a game of chance,' she said. Alcohol and drugs can also impede decision-making and Toney cautions against wagering while under the influence. The challenge is to recognize the signs of problem gambling before it gets out of hand. Shame and stigma often cause people to avoid getting help before more significant damage is done. It's OK to admit you have a problem and there are resources to help, she said. 'Generally, people have to come forward for support when they have been devastatingly impacted by financial harm,' said Toney. There are numerous resources on RGC's website at , including self-assessment tools and information on addiction support services.
Toronto Star
22-05-2025
- General
- Toronto Star
‘Honey, do you want to kiss a millionaire?': Newmarket retiree takes home $65-million Lotto Max jackpot
A retired business software analyst from Newmarket is $65 million richer after taking home the Lotto Max jackpot prize earlier this spring. Mark Hanley was eating breakfast when he realized all seven numbers on his ticket matched the winning digits from the March 28 draw on not immediately realizing the gravity of the match, he recalled in a news release from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. Hanley, who has played the lottery for 30 years before picking up the jackpot winner in Newmarket, said he jumped for joy once he realized — but still weighed whether the multimillion-dollar news warranted waking up his wife, 'who loves her sleep.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ''Honey, do you want to kiss a millionaire?'' he recalled asking her in an effort to surprise her. 'Funny enough, she sternly said, 'No,' and tried to go back to sleep.' Ontario This Ontario woman forgot to check her Lotto 6/49 ticket. Days before it expired, she realized she won $5 million The Beachville, Ont. had a suspicion that an unclaimed jackpot-winning ticket was hers. But once she had fully woken up and understood the win, Hanley's wife cried tears of joy, he said. Hanley and his wife decided to tell their adult children the news face-to-face, he said, adding his wife's tears and insistence that everything is all right over the phone probably made them think someone had died. Hanley's wife asked him to hold her coffee so her hands would be free to hug her their children, he said. It 'felt so good to tell them, and it's a dream come true to now be able to provide for them in so many incredible ways,' Hanley said. Gta 81-year-old man becomes first Order of Canada recipient to win $25 million lottery Charlie Coffey didn't quite believe it when he saw $25 thousand on the Lotto Max ticket reader. He said he hopes to surprise his family with some of his cash windfall: 'They're probably not going to believe it at first because you don't expect someone to suddenly come out of the blue and give you a gift like this.' Hanley said he also wants 'to travel the world for its food,' checking out authentic French bread, wine and cheese — adding he wanted to buy a castle, but his wife turned him down. The next Lotto Max jackpot draw is Friday, with an estimated $40-million payout.
Global News
22-05-2025
- Business
- Global News
$65M Ontario lottery winner wants to buy castle but his wife says no
Just because Ontario's latest multi-millionaire can now buy whatever he wants doesn't mean he's allowed to. The recent winner of the Lotto Max $65-million prize draw says his wife will not let him use the winnings to buy a castle, but they do want to travel the world. 'I want to buy a castle, but wife won't let me,' Mark Hanley told the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation in a news release published Thursday. The Newmarket, Ont., man was revealed Thursday as the March 28 $65-million Lotto Max winner. He purchased his ticket at New Town Variety on Yonge Street in Newmarket. 'The Lotto Max commercials say, 'Dream Bigger,' but I still haven't quite gotten that in my head,' Hanley said. 'I always dreamt of winning a couple of million, but this amount is just baffling! I just feel so grateful and blessed that this win came my way.' Story continues below advertisement Hanley was up early, enjoying his breakfast, when he decided to check his Lotto Max ticket after the March draw. After matching three numbers, he began to pay closer attention to what he was doing, but after seeing all seven numbers line up, he didn't grasp exactly what that meant. 'I've been playing the lottery for 30 years, and when I counted all seven numbers, I was disappointed that I didn't match the bonus number,' Hanley said. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'Then I realized there are only seven numbers with Lotto Max, and I got the big one! When I saw there was only one winner and the jackpot was $65 million, I started jumping for joy, saying, 'Touchdown!'' View image in full screen Mark Hanley of Newmarket was excited to tell his wife and adult children that he'd hit the LOTTO MAX jackpot and was about to become Ontario's newest multi-millionaire. He won the $65-million jackpot prize from the March 28, 2025 LOTTO MAX draw. Supplied by OLG When it all clicked in, Hanley said he debated whether to wake up his sleeping wife. Story continues below advertisement 'Is this important enough to wake up my wife, who loves her sleep? So, I decided to share the news by saying, 'Honey, do you want to kiss a millionaire?'' he said. 'Funny enough, she sternly said, 'No,' and tried to go back to sleep.' Hanley added he then had to convince his wife to get out of bed and meet him downstairs so he could show her his winning ticket. 'She looked at the ticket and thought, 'So what…?' So, I told her to go take a shower to fully wake up. When she came back, the reality of this win started to settle in, and she began crying tears of joy,' Hanley said. 'A dream come true' The retired business software analyst and his wife wanted to tell their grown children the news face to face. Story continues below advertisement 'We called to make sure they were home, and I said to my wife, 'Don't tell them anything – just say we're coming over.' When they answered the phone and my wife started to talk, she began crying again. 'She said, 'we're coming to see you… I can't tell you why… but everything's alright.'' Hanley started laughing and said, 'Oh good, now they think someone died!' Despite the initial tears from Hanley's wife, he said their children were overcome with emotion when they were finally told the news. 'I felt so good to tell them, and it's a dream come true to now be able to provide for them in so many incredible ways,' he said. When asked what's on his bucket list, Hanley was quick to answer: 'I want to travel the world for its food! I want to go to Italy, and especially France. I love French bread, French wine, and… oh my, French cheese!'
Global News
08-05-2025
- Business
- Global News
$60-million 6/49 Gold Ball jackpot winner in Ontario purchased ticket online
See more sharing options Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on Facebook The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation says the winning ticket for the $60-million 6/49 Gold Ball jackpot from Wednesday's draw was purchased online. The lucky winner bought their ticket on for the May 7 draw. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Two Encore tickets, each worth $100,000, were also purchased online. 'That means the winners have already received an email notifying them of their $60 million jackpot or big Encore prize,' the OLG said. The Lotto 6/49 draw is every Wednesday and Saturday, and is $3 per play. 'The Gold Ball Draw guarantees a $1 million prize, or the growing jackpot that starts at $10 million and can exceed $60 million,' the lottery company said.
CTV News
25-04-2025
- Business
- CTV News
2 weeks left to claim unclaimed lottery prize in Kemptville
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) says there are only two weeks left to claim an unclaimed lottery prize in eastern Ontario. The ticket is worth $25,000. It was a prize in the Lotto 6/49 super draw on May 11, 2024. The winning ticket was sold in Kemptville, south of Ottawa. The winning selection is 51545322-01, OLG says. 'Players must match all 10 digits in exact order to win the $25,000 Super Draw prize,' OLG said in a news release Friday. 'Our prize claim verification ensures that prize ownership and eligibility is confirmed before a prize is paid. If you believe you bought the winning ticket, or perhaps lost it, please be prepared to provide specific details including where and when your ticket was purchased when calling OLG Customer Care at 1-800-387-0098.' Lottery players have one year to claim their winnings. In 2023, a winning $70 million Lotto Max ticket that was sold in Scarborough, Ont. was never officially claimed, despite nearly 2,700 people coming forward to say they had bought the winning ticket. It is the largest unclaimed prize in Canadian history. Unclaimed prize winnings go back into the lottery prize pool.
