A northern Ontario man is celebrating a major lottery win that earned him $88,888 by matching symbols on an instant game ticket. Marcel Leclaire of Sudbury struck it rich playing Instant Lunar 8s (Game No. 2554), a $5 lottery scratch ticket with odds of winning any prize at 1 in 3.61. Instant Lunar 8s is a 12-game ticket where players scratch areas of each game, trying to uncover three identical symbols in the same game to win the corresponding prize for that game, as Leclaire did. More details about the game can be found on the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s website. No stranger to winning Leclaire, a retired taxi driver, told OLG staff that he’s been playing the lottery for more than 40 years and “is no stranger to winning big.” In 2017, the now 73-year-old retiree won $1 million with Encore, and in 2025, he celebrated a $3 million windfall with Instant Platinum. Now, Leclaire said he is thrilled by his third major win. “I’m a fan of David Pastrňák, and his jersey number is 88,” he said, while at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to pick up his winnings. “I saw the number 88 on this ticket, so I decided to pick one up.” Leclaire said he was at the store when he checked his ticket and found out he had won the big prize. “I stood there in complete shock,” he said, adding that the feeling was just as intense as the first time he won. “I shared the news with my brother and he was so happy for me.” Leclaire told OLG that he’s buying a new home and new furniture and he plans to save a portion of his winnings for the future. The winning ticket was purchased at Donovan Variety on Kathleen Street in Greater Sudbury. 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. RELATED STORIES:
