$1 bet leads to $100,000 win for Hilton Beach resident

Valerie Adcock, of Hilton Beach on St. Joseph Island, won $100,000 with Encore on her Lotto Max ticket this spring.

Valerie Adcock of Hilton Beach, Ont., is $100,000 richer after a lucky $1 Encore bet paid off in a major way. The longtime lottery player matched the last six of seven Encore numbers in exact order in the April 29 Lotto Max draw, turning a small wager into a six-figure windfall.

Adcock, a sales representative and mother of two, has played lottery games for decades, she said, often switching between choosing her own numbers and using the quick pick option. But this win – her first major prize – she told the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), has left her stunned.

‘It was just mind-boggling’

“I scanned my ticket using the store’s ticket checker and saw the prize amount appear on the screen,” Adcock said during her visit to the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to collect her winnings. “It was just mind-boggling to see that amount! I turned to the clerk and whispered, ‘I think I won.’ He didn’t hear me at first, so I said it again – and his eyes grew wide with shock.”

In her excitement, she said she rushed to call her husband. “I was dying to share the news with him and couldn’t even wait until I got home,” said Adcock. “I ran straight to the parking lot, grabbed my phone and with shaking hands, I dialed his number.”

Her husband and children were the first to know – and their joy mirrored hers.

“I can’t even begin to describe how excited they are for me,” she said.

A dream come true

Adcock admitted to OLG representatives that the win still felt surreal.

“It was quite surprising and hasn’t really sunk in yet,” she said. “I’ve always dreamed of winning the lottery, but never actually thought it would happen to me. I’m living proof that winning is possible. It can happen to anyone.”

Now, she plans to use the money wisely, saving for retirement and donating a portion to help others.

“I want to spread this blessing,” she said.

Encore, which offers 22 ways to win, can be added to most lottery games for a dollar, with draws held twice daily.

More details on the game can be found on OLG’s official website.

The winning ticket was purchased at Hilton Beach General Store on Mark Street in Hilton Beach.

Play responsibly

“OLG supports safe play and wants to keep the fun in the game,” said OLG on its website.

“That’s why OLG is proud to be a leader in promoting responsible gambling with our globally recognized Playsmart program.”

Playsmart offers information on gambling games.

If you or someone you know is struggling with a problem, help is available.