TORONTO, ON – A group of six from Haldimand County won “Ontario’s jackpot” – $250,000 in the June 20, 2026 LOTTARIO draw. The group also won additional prizes totalling $9,539 with their LOTTARIO selection, bringing their total winnings to $259,539!

The group members consist of:

Lynn D. of York

Albert D. of Cayuga

Blair T. of Cayuga

Debora D. of Cayuga

Lawrence (Larry) D. of York

Michelle T. of Caledonia

The group of family members and close friends have been playing LOTTARIO together every week for about three years. Larry was the one who scanned their ticket on the OLG app and discovered their big win.

“At first, I thought we won $260 and didn’t think much of it. When I put my glasses on and checked it again, I froze,” Larry said while at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto with the rest of the group members to collect their windfall. “I saw all the zeros and was completely stunned. The first thing that went through my mind was, ‘This can’t be real!’”

Larry’s wife, Lynn, was across from him at the kitchen counter when he checked the ticket. Unable to find the words, he turned his phone around and showed her the screen. In that moment, they were both in complete shock and overwhelmed with happiness.

Larry and Lynn began contacting the rest of the group members to share the remarkable news.

First, they placed a phone call to Albert. “As soon as we told him, he started shouting with joy,” they recalled with a chuckle. “He kept saying, ‘You’re kidding! No way!’”

Before telling his wife, Albert pulled out his phone to record her reaction.

“I thought to myself, ‘This is a moment we’ll want to remember forever,’” he said. “After all the celebrating, I went back to watch the video. That’s when I realized I was so excited that I forgot to press record! We had a good laugh about it. The memory of celebrating together is something we’ll never forget, and that’s worth more than any video.”

Blair, who was half asleep when he received a text message from Larry, said he nearly fell out of bed when he read the news. “I called him right away and asked, ‘Are you serious?’ I’m incredibly happy and grateful for this win.”

For Larry and Lynn, a Father’s Day breakfast at their daughter’s house was the perfect opportunity to reveal the news in person.

“As soon as we walked into the house, we turned on some music and started doing a happy dance,” they laughed. “Our daughter looked at us wondering what had gotten into us. When we told her we’d won the lottery, we all began hugging, jumping up and down, and dancing together in the kitchen.”

For Michelle, this win is especially meaningful, as she’s preparing to go on maternity leave. “The timing couldn’t have been better,” she said. “It’s given our family a nice financial cushion. I feel incredibly thankful.”

“I get to retire sooner, and I’m happy about that,” Debora added. “I’m also going to save for the future and treat myself to a nice, long cruise. That’s always been a dream of mine.”

Albert, who recently turned 65, also plans to retire soon and is looking forward to the opportunities this win will open up. “I also have my eye on a quad for ice fishing,” he said with a smile.

Blair will take some time to let the win sink in before deciding how to spend his portion of the winnings.

Larry plans to purchase a riding lawn mower. “I have acres of land that I’ve been mowing by hand for over 30 years. This is going to be a welcome upgrade!”

Lynn says she’ll put her share toward a trip to Jamaica to celebrate her birthday. “It’s the perfect excuse to celebrate!” she beamed.

LOTTARIO launched in 1978 as Ontario’s first terminal lotto game. Tickets are $1 and the draws take place every Saturday. Tickets purchased before 11:59 p.m. on Fridays are eligible for the Early Bird draw. Visit the LOTTARIO page on OLG.ca for more information.

The winning ticket was purchased at Avondale on George Street in Dunnville.

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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