Toronto, ON – Mohit Sharma of Etobicoke has long been enamoured with the world’s most famous and luxurious trains, dreaming of one day embarking on global adventures aboard them. Now, as Ontario’s newest multi-millionaire, his dreams of riding the rails will soon become a reality! Mohit won the $65 million jackpot from the LOTTO MAX draw on October 15, 2024.   

During his OLG Winner’s Celebration in Toronto, Mohit explained that he started buying lottery tickets in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, giving himself a weekly routine to look forward to during the lockdowns. He set a budget for himself and purchased LOTTO MAX and LOTTO 6/49 tickets with ENCORE each week. He always asked the retailer for Quick Pick numbers, and now, looking back on that decision, he finds it incredible that he won a $65 million jackpot. “I don’t pick the numbers, so, knowing that a random number that the lottery computer picked for me the winner — and my name was on that ticket — is just unbelievable!”

Mohit, who works as a consultant, likes to check his lottery tickets soon after the draw and says he’ll never forget that day he checked his LOTTO MAX ticket worth $65 million. “I heard on the news that the winning ticket was sold in Etobicoke. I had a couple of tickets in a drawer, so I set up the tickets on the table and started scanning them using the OLG app. The first ticket I scanned was the winner! I couldn’t believe it and my heart started pounding. My phone screen lit up as the words ‘Big Winner’ flashed across the screen I thought to myself, ‘I guess that person I heard about on the news was me!’”

Mohit was in the middle of cooking when he discovered he’d won the jackpot. In the intensity of the moment, he says he doesn’t know how he had the clarity to turn off the stove before a fire started in his kitchen! 

Still stunned by his new reality, Mohit decided to go for a walk to clear his head. When he returned home, he scanned the ticket again, just to make sure he wasn’t dreaming. Then he began researching how to claim his prize and reading about other big lottery winners.

Next came the question of how to share the news. Mohit wanted to tell his family immediately, but they were travelling at the time. Not wanting to cause any anxiety or cut their trips short, he decided to wait until they were all back together in person. He patiently waited and continued doing his ‘homework’ about his new windfall.

When the time finally came, Mohit gathered his family together for the big reveal. “To say they were shocked is an understatement,” he said. “I had to pinch a couple of them to prove it was real. It was an emotional moment with lots of trembling hands and elevated heart rates all around.” 

Now that the incredible news was out, the family wanted to celebrate with champagne. When they looked around, all they had was a mismatched collection of glasses. This occasion, they agreed was special enough to be done just right. “It was later in the evening when I shared the news with them,” Mohit recalled with a smile. “When we decided we needed proper champagne glasses to toast the great news, the only place still open was Walmart. So, we ran over to buy champagne glasses, and raised a glass to my good fortune. We finished the bottle together that night,” he laughed.

Mohit is confident that he’s assembled a strong team of professionals to help guide him and manage his newfound wealth wisely. First and foremost, his dream of taking care of his immediate family has come true. “The best part of winning the lottery is that me and my family are financially free. We don’t have to plan or save for holidays or vacations. If I want to travel now, I can. If I want to buy something, I can.” 

Mohit is also exploring how best to give back to his community and support various causes close to his heart.

When asked about what’s on his bucket list, he expressed that he loves to read and learn, and is considering going back to school for another degree or diploma. As for rest and relaxation, he vows to tour the globe as a passenger on some of the world’s most iconic trains.

“I have dreamt of travelling on these luxurious and exotic trains. I want to go to Japan to experience one of the world’s fastest trains The Shinkansen. I also want to travel on The Indian Pacific that goes from Sydney to Perth, Australia. The famous Orient Express is another on the top of my list, too. I’m excited to see more of Canada when I hop on The Canadian, from Toronto to Vancouver. In addition, I want to ride The Caledonia Sleeper, which crisscrosses the United Kingdom. This is what will excite me the most!”   

Despite all the dreams he can now fulfill, Mohit said there’s one thing that has kept him smiling since he realized he won. “The happiness I’m sharing with my family is the best part of this win!” he concluded.

Mohit purchased his winning LOTTO MAX ticket at Lakeshore Mini Mart on Lakeshore Boulevard West in Etobicoke.  

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.

Important to know – 100 per cent of OLG’s profits are invested in Ontario, so when you play LOTTO MAX, you are playing for Ontario.

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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