Toronto woman wins $40 million LOTTO MAX jackpot

TORONTO, April 8, 2013 /CNW/ - After thirty years of marriage, Maria Carreiro is finally going on her dream Hawaiian honeymoon, as she is the winner of the $40 million LOTTO MAX jackpot in the Friday, April 5 draw.

"I don't have a lot of spending money, but I decided to splurge and buy a LOTTO MAX ticket that day. I'm so glad I did!" Carreiro said, while at the OLG Prize Centre to claim her prize.

The 51-year old grandmother checked her ticket on Saturday morning, and was pleased to mistakenly discover that she won $40,000. It wasn't until she went home and her daughters checked OLG.ca that they all realized Carreiro had won $40 million.

"I couldn't believe it. I was shaking and just couldn't believe that it was real. We were all excited when we thought it was only in the thousands but then in disbelief when we discovered I was a millionaire!" explained Carreiro.

The mother and grandmother said this is going to start a new chapter in her life.

"The first thing I'm going to do is look for a nice big new house. And then I'm going to pamper myself - buy new clothes for myself and my husband and buy things for my kids that I couldn't buy before," she enthused.

Although Carreiro stayed at home to raise her children, she previously spent many years doing factory work.

"Now it's time to relax together with my husband. We never had a honeymoon, thirty years ago, so now it's time. We're going to Hawaii!" she laughed.

The winning ticket was purchased at Variety & Video on Eglinton Avenue in Toronto.

Ontario lottery players received $1.7 billion in prizes in the 2011/12 fiscal year.

OLG is a provincial agency responsible for province-wide lottery games and gaming facilities. Since 1975, OLG lotteries, Casinos, Slots, and Resort Casinos have generated more than $36 billion for the benefit of the Province of Ontario. Proceeds from OLG's operations help support Ontario's hospitals, amateur sport through the QUEST FOR GOLD program, recreational and cultural activities, communities, provincial priority programs such as health care and education, and local and provincial charities.

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Image with caption: "Greg McKenzie, VP of Lottery at OLG, presents a cheque for $40 million to Maria Carreiro after she won the April 5, 2013 LOTTO MAX jackpot. (CNW Group/OLG)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130408_C3513_PHOTO_EN_25307.jpg

Image with caption: "Maria Carreiro and daughter have an emotional moment on stage, while accepting a cheque from OLG for $40 million after winning the April 5, 2013 LOTTO MAX jackpot. (CNW Group/OLG)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130408_C3513_PHOTO_EN_25309.jpg

SOURCE: OLG

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