‘Pure happiness’: Massey mom claims $350,000 lottery prize

Massey mom wins $350,000 on an Instant lottery ticket. Santana Bob plans to buy a new car and fulfill her son's birthday wish list.

A northern Ontario woman is celebrating a major lottery win that earned her $350,000 by matching numbers on an instant game ticket.

Santana Bob of Massey struck it rich playing Instant Banco (Game #2516), a $20 lottery scratch ticket with odds of winning any prize at 1 in 3.89.

Instant Banco is a three game ticket. In Game 1, players scratch four lucky numbers and a bonus number in an attempt to match them with their numbers to win a corresponding prize. In Games 2 and 3 players scratch the areas completely looking to uncover three identical prize amounts in the same game to with that prize for a chance at winning the $350,000 top prize, like Bob did.

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

Bob, a 28-year-old mother of one, told OLG staff that she’s been playing the lottery with OLG since she was old enough to purchase a ticket and is “delighted” to tell the story of her first big win.

When asked to describe what it’s like to win big, she said, “It’s just pure happiness all around.”

“I like to play the lottery about three times a month – it’s something fun to do,” she said, while at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to pick up her winnings.

“I enjoy the thrill of the game and seeing how many words I get.”

During a routine trip to the store, Bob said she decided to purchase a ticket that was new to her.

Bob said she “didn’t think much of it at the time.”

Later that day, she sat down on her sofa to play her ticket and checked it using the OLG app.

Numb, excited and overwhelmed

“I froze and stared at the screen, trying to process what I was seeing,” she said.

“I felt numb, excited and overwhelmed all at the same time,” Bob added.

Bob said that she first shared the news with her mom.

“We screamed together,” she said. “Then I showed my dad, and his eyes went wide.”

“He was smiling from ear to ear,” Bob added.

The next person she told was her 10-year-old son.

“His birthday is next month and he immediately started making a list of things he wants,” the mother laughed.

With her windfall, she plans to purchase a new car, treat herself to a shopping spree and invest for the future.

“I need to get a new car, but before this, my options were limited. Now I’m looking forward to going car shopping.”

The winning ticket was purchased at Stewart’s General Store on Main Street in Webbwood, 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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