TORONTO, ON – Saying “yes” to ENCORE paid off for Karen and Pat Huffman of Ridgeway. They matched all seven ENCORE numbers in exact order in the March 19, 2025 LOTTO 6/49 draw to win $1 million!

Karen and Pat, parents of five and grandparents of eight, have been occasional lottery players with OLG for decades. When the jackpots are high, the retirees will pick up a LOTTO 6/49, LOTTO MAX, or LOTTARIO ticket, always with ENCORE. The couple recently shared how a quick stop for a bottle of water ultimately led them to their first big win!

“I was on my way to meet up with my knitting group at the yarn shop when I stopped at the convenience store to buy a bottle of water,” Karen recounted, as she and Pat visited the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to claim their winnings. “At the same time, I bought us a LOTTO 6/49 ticket. Three weeks later, I found our ticket in my purse. I scanned it on the OLG app, and when I saw the prize amount, my first thought was that Pat was playing some kind of trick on me.”

“Together, we scanned our ticket again, and at first, I thought it said we’d won $1,000,” said Pat, proudly donning a knit sweater that Karen had handmade for him. “We checked it a few more times before realizing it was $1 million!”

“After confirming with OLG that we’d won, we giggled for days,” Karen smiled. “We shared the news with our kids, and much like us, they were overwhelmed but very happy.”

“Winning feels like being in a movie; it’s the most surreal thing that’s ever happened to us,” the couple beamed. “We plan to share our prize with our children and travel.”

ENCORE offers 22 ways to win and can be played in conjunction with most lottery games for an extra $1. There are two ENCORE draws every day.

The winning ticket was purchased at Avondale on Dominion Road in Ridgeway.

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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