Encore pays $100K to 30-year lotto player in Parry Sound

2 Ontario women each won $100K on OLG tickets. Sudbury's Laura Fong will save and treat herself, while Parry Sound's Crystal Rivers plans a trip to Australia

Saying “yes” to Encore paid off for one woman last year.

Crystal Rivers of Parry Sound matched the last six of seven Encore numbers in exact order in the Nov. 26 Ontario 49 draw to win $100,000.

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

More details about Encore can be found on the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s website.

Rivers, who works in retail, said she discovered her big win when she checked the at a local store.

“I freaked out,” she said, while at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to pick up her winnings.

“I was in disbelief and thought to myself, ‘This can’t be real!’”

Rivers told officials that she has been playing the lottery for more than 30 years and currently plays every Wednesday and Saturday with her “go-to games” being Ontario 49 and Lotto 6/49.

Rivers said she shared the news with her boss who was very happy for her.

Rivers said she plans to use her windfall to pay some bills.

“I also want to go to Australia with my husband to visit family,” she added.

The winning ticket was purchased at Sara’s Mini Mart on Seguin Street in downtown Parry Sound, OLG confirmed.

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.

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