TORONTO, ON – The possibilities are endless for Zhilei (Jerry) Yin of Markham after winning $1,000 a week for life with INSTANT CASH FOR LIFE (Game #1182). Jerry opted for the lump sum prize of $675,000.

Jerry, a 24-year-old rideshare driver, has been a loyal lottery player with OLG since he turned 18. He enjoys playing a variety of games and especially looks forward to trying new ones as they’re released. Now, he is overjoyed to share the story of his first big win.

With $4 in his pocket, Jerry walked by a lottery kiosk when he grabbed a CASH FOR LIFE ticket. “I used to play CASH FOR LIFE a few years ago, but I stopped for a bit,” he explained, while visiting the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to claim his winnings. “It wasn’t until a couple days ago, when someone suggested I pick one up, that I decided I’d give it another try. I made up my mind that the next time I was at the store, I’d get one — and that turned out to be my winning ticket!”

Jerry played his ticket right there at the kiosk. When he uncovered three LIFE symbols in the same game, his eyes grew wide with shock. “I gasped and took a step back. My heart was racing, my face turned red, and my hands started shaking,” he recounted. “I said to myself, ‘This can’t be real! Then, I took a deep breath and checked my ticket about five more times,” he said with a laugh. “I was so excited I could hardly breathe!”

After taking a moment to collect himself, Jerry called his mom to share the remarkable news. “I said, ‘Mom — guess what? I won big!’ At first, she didn’t believe me. I sent her a video of myself validating my ticket, and that’s when she realized it was true. She was beyond happy for me and began to scream and cheer,” he recalled with a smile.

Jerry also broke the news to a group of friends. “Initially, they thought I’d won $1,000. I said, ‘Guys…it’s $1,000 a week for life.’ They were thrilled for me!”

When asked what it’s like to win the lottery, Jerry said, “It feels incredible! When I first found out I’d won, I thought I was dreaming. Now, there are so many emotions running through my mind. I feel so grateful and blessed to have won this prize at such a young age. I always dreamt of winning the lottery, but never imagined it would happen so soon.”

With his windfall, Jerry plans to pay off bills, invest, and purchase a new car. He also plans to treat himself to a new laptop, and perhaps buy some new camping gear for an upcoming trip.

“I’m excited to see what the future holds,” he added, beaming. “Thank you to OLG for this life-changing moment. My life just got a thousand times better!”

INSTANT CASH FOR LIFE is available for $4 a play and the top prize is $1,000 a week for life. Odds of winning any prize are 1 in 3.46. Visit the INSTANT page on OLG.ca for more information on this and other great games.

The winning ticket was purchased at Gateway Lotto on 35 Bloor Street in Toronto.

OLG supports safe play and wants to keep the fun in the game. That’s why OLG is proud to be a leader in promoting responsible gambling with our globally recognized PlaySmart program.

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OLG is a crown agency that contributes to a better Ontario by delivering great entertainment experiences for our customers. Acting in a socially responsible way, OLG conducts and manages land-based gaming facilities; the sale of province-wide lottery games; Internet gaming; and the delivery of bingo and other electronic gaming products at Charitable Gaming Centres. OLG is also helping support the horse racing industry in Ontario. Since 1975, OLG has generated approximately $62 billion to the people and Province of Ontario to support key government priorities like health care; the treatment and prevention of problem gambling; and support for amateur athletes. Each year profits from OLG’s operations also support host communities, Ontario First Nations, lottery retailers and local charities across the province.

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TORONTO, ON – James Hosie of Brantford is $350,000 richer after winning a top prize with INSTANT SCRABBLE (Game #2482).

James, a retiree, has been a regular lottery player with OLG for the past five years, picking up a different OLG INSTANT ticket daily as part of his morning routine. “This was a new ticket, so I decided to give it a try,” he explained. Now, the father of two is pleased to share the story of his recent big win!

“I was at home when I played my ticket and checked it using the OLG app on my phone. That’s when I discovered it was a winner,” James recounted, while visiting the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to claim his windfall. “I was in disbelief and thought to myself, ‘Is this real?’ It didn’t sink in until later — and I was so excited.”

He quickly shared the incredible news with his children. “They were so happy for me.”

With his prize, James plans to pay off bills and buy a new vehicle.

When asked how it feels to win the lottery, he said, “I don’t know how to describe this feeling. It’s just great!”

INSTANT SCRABBLE is available for $20 a play and the top prize is $350,000. Odds of winning any prize are 1 in 3.86. Visit the INSTANT page on OLG.ca for more information on this and other great games.

The winning ticket was purchased at Food Basics on King George Road in Brantford.

OLG supports safe play and wants to keep the fun in the game. That’s why OLG is proud to be a leader in promoting responsible gambling with our globally recognized PlaySmart program.

SCRABBLE: © 2024 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved. Licensed by Hasbro.

OLG Winners
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OLG is a crown agency that contributes to a better Ontario by delivering great entertainment experiences for our customers. Acting in a socially responsible way, OLG conducts and manages land-based gaming facilities; the sale of province-wide lottery games; Internet gaming; and the delivery of bingo and other electronic gaming products at Charitable Gaming Centres. OLG is also helping support the horse racing industry in Ontario. Since 1975, OLG has generated approximately $62 billion to the people and Province of Ontario to support key government priorities like health care; the treatment and prevention of problem gambling; and support for amateur athletes. Each year profits from OLG’s operations also support host communities, Ontario First Nations, lottery retailers and local charities across the province.

Play for Ontario – 100 per cent of OLG’s profits are invested in Ontario
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ConnexOntario – Problem Gambling Support: 1-866-531-2600

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Toronto, ON – Virginia Zapanta of Scarborough can realize her dreams after winning a $1 million MAXMILLIONS prize in the April 25, 2025 LOTTO MAX draw.

Virginia has been a loyal lottery player with OLG for over 40 years. She enjoys playing LOTTO MAX and LOTTO 6/49 and never misses a draw. She uses OLG’s Quick Pick feature to make her selections and always says ‘yes’ to ENCORE. Now, the longtime lottery player is celebrating her 83^rd birthday with her first big win: $1 million!

“I was shopping at the mall and on my way out, I came across a kiosk, so I decided to stop and grab a ticket,” she recounted, while visiting the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to collect her winnings.

It was a few days after the draw — on her birthday, no less — when Virginia had her ticket validated and received the surprise of a lifetime. “When I saw the prize amount on the screen, I froze,” she said. “My heart started racing as I stood there in shock. I turned to the store clerk and asked, ‘Is this real? This can’t be real!’”

When her win was confirmed, Virginia was overwhelmed with excitement. “I typically win Free Plays or $5,” she chuckled, “But $1 million? Wow — it’s just crazy. Never in my life did I prepare myself for a win like this. I’ve never seen such a large amount before!”

Virginia shared the incredible news with a group of friends. “They started dancing around me,” she said, smiling. “They’re all so happy for me.”

When asked how it feels to win the lottery, Virginia beamed with joy. “I’m happy, happy, happy!” she exclaimed. “This is hands down one of my favourite birthdays ever. 83 is my year!”

With her newfound fortune, Virginia plans to share with her family, pay off her mortgage, and treat herself to a well-deserved shopping spree at the mall.

“This win lets me cross one of the last few things off my bucket list,” she added. “I feel incredibly grateful to be an OLG winner.”

LOTTO MAX players in Ontario have won over $9 billion since 2009, including 115 jackpot wins and 943 MAXMILLIONS prizes, right across the province. LOTTO MAX is $5 per play and draws take place on Tuesdays and Fridays. Click here for more information about LOTTO MAX.  

The winning ticket was purchased at Gateway Lotto Centre on Tapscott Road in Scarborough.

OLG supports safe play and wants to keep the fun in the game. That’s why OLG is proud to be a leader in promoting responsible gambling with our globally recognized PlaySmart program.

OLG Winners
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OLG is a crown agency that contributes to a better Ontario by delivering great entertainment experiences for our customers. Acting in a socially responsible way, OLG conducts and manages land-based gaming facilities; the sale of province-wide lottery games; Internet gaming; and the delivery of bingo and other electronic gaming products at Charitable Gaming Centres. OLG is also helping support the horse racing industry in Ontario. Since 1975, OLG has generated approximately $62 billion to the people and Province of Ontario to support key government priorities like health care; the treatment and prevention of problem gambling; and support for amateur athletes. Each year profits from OLG’s operations also support host communities, Ontario First Nations, lottery retailers and local charities across the province.

Play for Ontario – 100 per cent of OLG’s profits are invested in Ontario
OLG.ca
Follow on X @OLG_ca
Find us on Facebook/Instagram @OLG.ca

PlaySmart.ca
Knowledge you can bet on.
ConnexOntario – Problem Gambling Support: 1-866-531-2600

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CONTACT:
OLG MEDIA RELATIONS
1-888-946-6716

TORONTO, ON – Saying “yes” to ENCORE paid off for Maria Vadkerty of Brampton. She matched all seven ENCORE numbers in exact order in the April 30, 2025 LOTTO 6/49 draw to win $1 million!

Maria, a retiree, has been a regular lottery player with OLG for the past six years. She enjoys playing LOTTO 6/49, LOTTO MAX, and ONTARIO 49, never missing a draw. Maria adds ENCORE to all her tickets and uses OLG’s Quick Pick feature to make her selections. She’s now delighted to share the news of her first big win.

“My husband passed away six years ago, and he used to play the lottery all the time. After he died, I took over his routine,” Maria shared, while visiting the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to collect her winnings.

“I always check my tickets first thing in the morning,” she said. “That day, I began comparing the numbers on my ticket to the winning numbers. One by one, they began to match, and my heart started beating faster and faster. When I realized I’d matched all seven numbers, thought to myself, ‘This can’t be real.’ I couldn’t believe it!”

Maria intends to donate a portion of her winnings but hasn’t made any other plans just yet.

“I still can’t quite process this win. I’m stunned and beyond happy,” she said with a smile. “This is such a beautiful moment.”

ENCORE offers 22 ways to win and can be played in conjunction with most lottery games for an extra $1. There are two ENCORE draws every day.

The winning ticket was purchased at Shoppers Drug Mart on Main Street South in Brampton.

OLG supports safe play and wants to keep the fun in the game. That’s why OLG is proud to be a leader in promoting responsible gambling with our globally recognized PlaySmart program.

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Celebrating 50 years of wins and giving back! OLG is a crown agency that contributes to a better Ontario by delivering great entertainment experiences for our customers. Acting in a socially responsible way, OLG conducts and manages land-based gaming facilities; the sale of province-wide lottery games; Internet gaming; and the delivery of bingo and other electronic gaming products at Charitable Gaming Centres. OLG is also helping support the horse racing industry in Ontario. OLG has been giving back to Ontario since 1975, generating approximately $62 billion for the people and the Province to support key government priorities like health care; the treatment and prevention of problem gambling; and support for amateur athletes. Each year profits from OLG’s operations also support host communities, Ontario First Nations, lottery retailers and local charities across the province. 

Play for Ontario – 100 per cent of OLG’s profits are invested in Ontario 

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TORONTO, ON – Saying “yes” to ENCORE paid off for Richard McInnis of Kenmore. He matched all seven ENCORE numbers in exact order in the May 6, 2025 LOTTO MAX draw to win $1 million!

Richard, a food service manager, has been playing the lottery with OLG for over 20 years. His game of choice is LOTTO MAX, and he only plays when the jackpot exceeds $25 million. Richard uses OLG’s Quick Pick feature to make his selections and always says ‘yes’ to ENCORE. The father and grandfather is now thrilled to share the story of his first big win.

“I woke up at 4 a.m. to use the bathroom, and on my way back to bed, I thought, ‘Hmm, I wonder if anyone won the $75 million LOTTO MAX jackpot.’ One by one, I checked my tickets, and the last one left me in shock,” Richard recounted, while visiting the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to claim his winnings.

“I said to myself, ‘Holy cow! This is unreal!’ I had to check my ticket about 20 times,” Richard said with a laugh.

Still in disbelief, he asked a friend to confirm what he was seeing. “I showed him my phone and said, ‘Check this and tell me what it says.’ His jaw nearly hit the floor when he looked at it. Then he shouted, ‘Richard, you’re a millionaire!’”

Soon after, Richard told his close family about his unexpected windfall. “Everyone was so happy for me, and my brother asked me why I’m still working,” he chuckled.

When asked how it feels to win the lottery, Richard said, “I still can’t believe this actually happened — it’s just unreal. I don’t think it’ll fully set in until the money’s in my bank account.”With his winnings, Richard plans to pay off bills, buy his brother a car, and invest. “This win will definitely make retirement easier,” he concluded.

ENCORE offers 22 ways to win and can be played in conjunction with most lottery games for an extra $1. There are two ENCORE draws every day.

The winning ticket was purchased at Shoppers Drug Mart on Memorial Avenue in Thunder Bay.

OLG supports safe play and wants to keep the fun in the game. That’s why OLG is proud to be a leader in promoting responsible gambling with our globally recognized PlaySmart program.

OLG Winners

Follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram

Celebrating 50 years of wins and giving back! OLG is a crown agency that contributes to a better Ontario by delivering great entertainment experiences for our customers. Acting in a socially responsible way, OLG conducts and manages land-based gaming facilities; the sale of province-wide lottery games; Internet gaming; and the delivery of bingo and other electronic gaming products at Charitable Gaming Centres. OLG is also helping support the horse racing industry in Ontario. OLG has been giving back to Ontario since 1975, generating approximately $62 billion for the people and the Province to support key government priorities like health care; the treatment and prevention of problem gambling; and support for amateur athletes. Each year profits from OLG’s operations also support host communities, Ontario First Nations, lottery retailers and local charities across the province.

Play for Ontario – 100 per cent of OLG’s profits are invested in Ontario

OLG.ca

Follow on X @OLG_ca
Find us on Facebook/Instagram @OLG.ca

PlaySmart.ca

With you every step of the play

ConnexOntario – Problem Gambling Support: 1-866-531-2600

Disponible en français

CONTACT:

OLG MEDIA RELATIONS

1-888-946-6716