Toronto, ON – Donna and Mark Thomson of Watford have $303,148.80 to put toward their dreams after winning a LOTTO MAX second prize in the May 6, 2025 draw.

Donna, a personal support worker, and Mark, a truck driver, have been playing the lottery together for decades. They like to pick up their LOTTO MAX and LOTTO 6/49 tickets weekly, always adding ENCORE to their plays. Donna and Mark prefer to choose their own numbers based on special family birthdays and anniversaries. Now, the married parents of two and grandparents of two are delighted to share the story of their first big win!

“We went to the store and I scanned our ticket using the ticket checker,” Mark said, during their visit to the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to claim their windfall. “When Mark told me we’d won over $300,000, I was in total shock!” Donna added.

“At first, we didn’t think it was real. We thought there had been an error with the machine,” Mark explained with a chuckle. “My initial reaction was, ‘This is crazy! We have to tell the kids.’”

Eager to share their joy, the couple broke the wonderful news to their children. “They were so surprised and beyond thrilled for us,” Mark said, smiling.

Donna and Mark plan to share their winnings with their children and save for a comfortable retirement.

“We work hard and work a lot, so this win is a really nice blessing. It gives us a hopeful feeling for the future,” said Donna.

“This win is just unbelievable,” Mark continued. “It still hasn’t fully sunk in, but we couldn’t be happier.”

LOTTO MAX players in Ontario have won over $9 billion since 2009, including 115 jackpot wins and 944 MAXMILLIONS prizes, right across the province. LOTTO MAX is $5 per play and draws take place on Tuesdays and Fridays. Click here for more information about LOTTO MAX.

The winning ticket was purchased at Circle K on Nauvoo Road in Watford.

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