Toronto, ON – Yagoda Smith of Courtice was struck by the LIGHTNING LOTTO jackpot on December 7, 2024. The top prize had grown to $982,469.60 before it was won!

Yagoda, a travel consultant, is a weekly lottery player with OLG. She enjoys playing LIGHTNING LOTTO, as well as a variety of INSTANT tickets. The mother of two and grandmother of three is delighted to share how a quick stop at the store led to her first big win!

“I was at the store when I asked for a LIGHTNING LOTTO ticket. When I discovered I’d won the jackpot, it was unreal,” Yagoda recalled, while visiting the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to claim her winnings. “It’s still hard to believe I won, but being here today is making it feel more real,” she chuckled.

“I shared the incredible news with my immediate family, and they thought I was kidding around,” said Yagoda. “When they realized it was true, they were so happy for me and said, ‘You deserve it.’ This experience has been exciting and surreal,” Yagoda smiled. “I feel fantastic!”

Yagoda will use her windfall to take care of her family and travel.

LIGHTNING LOTTO players can win a jackpot on the spot! Match all five numbers in any one line on your LIGHTNING LOTTO ticket with those drawn earlier that day to win the jackpot. The top prize starts at $125,000 and grows with ticket sales. Each $2 Quick Pick consists of three lines of five numbers from 1 to 49. LIGHTNING LOTTO is available exclusively at lottery retailers. Odds of winning any prize are 1 in 4.47. For more information on How to Play as well as full prize details and odds of winning, visit OLG.ca.

The winning ticket was purchased at Circle K on Grandview Street South in Oshawa.

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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