"Holy Mackerel" - Orillia resident wins $20 million jackpot with LOTTO MAX

TORONTO, July 28, 2014 /CNW/ - A $20,609,032 jackpot win in the July 25, 2014 LOTTO MAX draw is still sinking in for John E. Mason, a longtime resident of Orillia. While the retired electrician has been playing the same numbers, made up of family birthdays and special dates, for years, it was a Quick Pick selection that won him the top prize.

The 75 year old biked to his local store to pick up a newspaper and a print out of the winning LOTTO MAX numbers as he usually does every Saturday morning. Once returning home, John checked his ticket against the print out. "I circle the matching numbers as I go and I realized that I was getting every number! I got out my magnifying glass to make sure I was seeing everything correctly. Holy mackerel, I thought, I just won the jackpot!"

After signing the winning ticket, John immediately took a cab back to the store to validate his ticket. "All the bells and whistles went off. I was shocked and overwhelmed but I even remembered to give a $100 tip to both the store clerk and taxi driver for their help." 

After keeping his jackpot win a secret for several hours, John finally shared his big news. His niece Lee came to visit him later that day, "We chatted and joked around for 20 minutes before he spilled the beans," Lee laughed, while accompanying her uncle at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto where he claimed his prize.

"She went into a bigger spin than I did," John added.

The long time lottery player won $1,000 with Daily Keno about 7 years ago. When asked what he did with the money, John joked, "I think I still have some of it left! No. It probably went towards paying off some bills."

John, an avid fisher and boater, plans to purchase a waterfront home, buy a new car and travel south for the winter. "Also, family comes first. I will be helping my many brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews with this windfall."

The winning ticket was purchased at Laclie Pharmacy on Laclie Street in Orillia.

Since its launch in September 2009, Ontario LOTTO MAX players have won over $2 billion in prizes, including 36 jackpot wins and 205 winning MAXMILLIONS tickets from all across the province.

OLG is a provincial agencyresponsible for province-wide lottery games and gaming facilities. Since 1975, OLG has provided nearly $38 billion to the Province and the people of Ontario. OLG's annual payments to the Province have helped support health care; education, research, prevention and treatment of problem gambling; amateur sport through the Quest for Gold program; and local and provincial charities.

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Image with caption: "John E. Mason of Orillia claimed the $20,‎609,032 jackpot from the July 25, 2014 LOTTO MAX draw (CNW Group/OLG Winners)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140728_C2816_PHOTO_EN_4505.jpg

SOURCE: OLG Winners

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