03-05-2025
Ontario man checks lottery ticket at gas station, forgets to fill up his tank after discovering $100K win
What started as a routine trip to the gas station quickly turned into a six-figure surprise for Rojeh Sayegh of Pickering, Ont. The 25-year-old had planned to fill up his car, but after checking his Poker Lotto ticket and realizing he'd won $100,000 in the Feb. 15, 2025 draw, his priorities quickly changed.
'After scanning it and seeing that I'd won, I was so happy. I left the gas station without even pumping gas!' said Sayegh, while visiting the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to claim his winnings.
His day began like any other cold Canadian winter morning. After clearing the snow from his driveway, Sayegh set out to refuel his vehicle — completely unaware that life-changing news was waiting just around the corner.
'I shovelled my driveway and headed to the gas station to fill up. When I arrived at the store, I decided to use the ticket checker to see how I did on my Poker Lotto ticket,' said Sayegh.
He had matched five of five cards to win the game's top prize. The lucky ticket was purchased at Metro on Whites Road North in Pickering.
A longtime fan of lottery games, Sayegh has been playing with OLG since he turned 18. He says he enjoys Poker Lotto, Lotto Max, and Lotto 6/49 — but this is his biggest win yet.
'Then, I called my dad to tell him the good news,' he said. 'He was hesitant to believe me at first, but later congratulated me on my win.'
Now $100,000 richer, Sayegh plans to invest the money and treat himself to a well-deserved vacation.
Poker Lotto is a $2 lottery game that plays like a hand of poker. Each ticket gives you a five-card hand — if your cards form a winning poker combination, you can win an instant prize of up to $5,000 right at the store. The same hand is also entered into a nightly draw, where players have a chance to win up to $100,000. With two chances to win on every play, it's a fast-paced game that combines the luck of the draw with the fun of poker.
If you're looking to take a break from gambling, self-exclusion programs can be effective tools. See here for resources that are available across Canada.
