Toronto, ON – Stephen (Steve) and Giovannina (Joanne) Scerba of Thunder Bay can “find their possible” after winning a LOTTO 6/49 prize worth $1 million in the Gold Ball Draw on October 16, 2024.

Steve, who works in public service, and Joanne, a retired public servant, are both regular and faithful lottery players with OLG. They enjoy playing LOTTO 6/49 and LOTTO MAX, using OLG’s Quick Pick feature to make their selections. Steve and Joanne are excited to share the news of their first big win and the joy of becoming millionaires!

“I was at the store when I used the ticket checker to see how did on our LOTTO 6/49 ticket,” said Steve, while he and Joanne visited the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to claim their windfall. “I must have scanned it at least eight times. I’d convinced myself we had won $100,000. I asked the clerk to check it for me, and she said it looked like I had won $1 million! I was frozen with disbelief as tears of joy filled my eyes.”

Immediately after learning of their win, Steve called Joanne to share the amazing news. “I could barely understand him and thought something was wrong at first,” said Joanne. As it finally started to sink in, all I could say was, ‘Are you joking? Are you sure?’ When he showed me the ticket, I burst into tears!”

“Instead of OLG, it was OMG,” Steve laughed. “We spent days in a haze of bewilderment. Now that we’ve settled into the reality of winning, we’re so happy and feeling good about our comfortable retirement years ahead. We’re just thrilled and thankful,” Steve smiled.

With their winnings, the couple plans to complete some home renovations, invest for their future, and travel. “My retirement date has been accelerated,” said Steve. “We look forward to visiting some warm, sunny beaches,” he concluded.

LOTTO 6/49 offers players a chance to win two multi-million dollar jackpots every Wednesday and Saturday, for the same $3 per play.

The Classic Draw offers a fixed $5 million jackpot for every draw, while the Gold Ball Draw guarantees a $1 million prize, or the growing jackpot that starts at $10 million and can exceed $60 million. Click here for more information about the new LOTTO 6/49.

The winning ticket was purchased at Safeway on Arthur Street West in Thunder Bay.

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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