Toronto, ON – Bartolome (Bart) Gonzales of Toronto is celebrating after winning a $250,000 top prize with INSTANT CROSSWORD DELUXE (Game #3354).

Bart, a self-described dog dad, has been a regular lottery player with OLG for more than 10 years, and his favourite game is CROSSWORD DELUXE. When Bart read the stories of other winners, he had a feeling that one day it might be his turn—and he was right! Now, he’s ecstatic to share the story of how he won big!

“I had forgotten about this particular ticket and decided to take it to the store. I used the ticket checker and immediately saw the ‘Big Winner’ message on the screen. In that moment, I was shocked and didn’t believe what I was seeing,” Bart recalled, while visiting the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to pick up his winnings. “I left that store and rushed to another to scan my ticket again. I wanted to make sure it was true! When I saw the same message on the ticket checker, I couldn’t speak. My brain was frozen,” Bart laughed. “The storekeepers were asking me questions, but I couldn’t find the words!”

“My heart is so full,” Bart smiled. “This win gives me the opportunity to share with and help my family. They’ve helped me over the years and now it’s my turn to take care of them. I will also use some of my win to travel and visit my sisters.”

“I feel amazing! It’s like I’m floating among the stars,” Bart concluded with a big smile.

INSTANT CROSSWORD DELUXE is available for $10 a play and the top prize is $250,000. Odds of winning any prize are 1 in 3.46.

The winning ticket was purchased at Sam’s Food Stores on River 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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