Holiday-themed lotto ticket delivers $50K to ‘lucky’ northern Ont. player

A photo of Louise Cormier of Elliot Lake, Ont., holding a promotional check for $50,000 to accept her lottery prize after winning on an Instant 25 Days to Win ticket. (Supplied/Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation)

An Elliot Lake woman is celebrating a major lottery win after scratching out a $50,000 prize on an instant game ticket.

Louise Cormier struck it rich playing Instant 25 Days to Win (Game #2546), a $10 lottery scratch ticket with odds of winning any prize at 1 in 3.9.

Players scratch out 25 ‘Lucky Numbers’ and their 25 days and if one ore more of the lucky numbers matches one or more of the day numbers the corresponding prize is won for a chance to win up to $50,000.

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

Cormier, 79, told she enjoys playing OLG instant tickets and likes to try new holiday-themed games.

Cormier discovered her win while scratching the ticket at home, noticing several matching numbers that indicated a prize.

“I didn’t believe it at first, so I grabbed my phone and checked my ticket using the OLG app. The screen lit up and I was still in disbelief, so I took my ticket to the store to double-check,” she said, while at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to pick up her winnings.

The store confirmation made the victory real for the retiree.

“When the store clerk scanned my ticket and the ‘Big Winner’ message appeared on the screen, it finally hit me and I began shouting, ‘Oh my gosh!’” she said.

After confirming her win, Cormier immediately shared the news with her family. Her twin sister was among the first to hear.

“I told my twin sister over the phone, and she couldn’t believe it either – she was just as shocked and excited as I was,” she said.

The celebration became a family affair, with her children and grandchildren joining her for the trip to Toronto to collect the prize.

“My children and grandchildren are so happy for me,” she said.

Cormier said she plans to use the prize money for practical purposes and to share the joy with her loved ones. Her intentions include paying some bills, purchasing Christmas gifts for her family and saving for the future.

“This prize money will make retirement more comfortable,” she said.

The winning ticket was purchased at Hillside Shop and Save on Hillside Drive South in Elliot Lake, 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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