TORONTO, ON – Shawn and Nancy Lyons of Moffat won “Ontario’s jackpot” – $760,178.70 in the March 29, 2025 LOTTARIO draw.

Shawn and Nancy, a married couple who run their family-owned business, have been playing the lottery together for more than 30 years. Throughout this time, they’ve enjoyed a variety of jackpot and INSTANT games, always believing that one day they’d win big. Ultimately, it was a LOTTARIO Free Play prize that led the parents of three and grandparents of three to their extraordinary jackpot win!

“It was the day of our daughter’s wedding shower, and my son and I were outside in the parking lot. I was checking my tickets using the OLG app on my phone when I got to the last one — a LOTTARIO Free Play,” Shawn recounted, as he and Nancy visited the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto. “I saw the winning message and thought I’d won $760. Shocked, I showed the message to my son. He said, ‘OMG! You won $760,000!’ We were both so excited! We laughed and did a little happy dance before heading inside to share the incredible news with Nancy.”

“With a big smile on my face, I sat down beside my wife. She was suspicious, but followed me outside when I asked her to,” said Shawn, still wearing that same great smile. “When I showed her the screenshot of the winning message, she thought it was an April Fool’s joke. Seeing my son’s flushed face and wide grin, she realized it was real. She was thrilled and amazed.”

Nancy is convinced that Shawn manifested their windfall. “Shawn always talks about the lottery and has always felt we’d win one day,” she said. “Back in 2009, we celebrated New Year’s Eve in Toronto. We stopped to take a picture in front of the OLG Prize Centre, hoping to return one day with a winning ticket,” Shawn added. “I printed that picture, and it’s been hanging in our bedroom ever since. Now, here we are!”

“Winning comes with a burst of emotions,” the couple shared, beaming. “One minute you’re laughing, and the next, you’re overwhelmed. It’s very exciting, as this win gives us the opportunity to help our children and our grandchildren. We also look forward to paying off our mortgage, completing some renovations, and investing for our retirement,” they concluded.

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 Turtle on Guelph Line in Campbellville.

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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