An Ontario couple that won a $50-million Lotto Max prize will have to wait for the results of an investigation before they can claim their windfall.

Hawkesbury, Ont. couple Jo-Ann and Gaetan Champagne were announced as the winners of the Dec. 30 draw.

However, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) announced Wednesday an investigation is being launched into the former convenience store owners.

"The claimants, Jo-Ann and Gaetan Champagne, have each been employed as lottery retailers within the past year, their prize claim is subject to OLG's Insider Wins process," the statement said.

The prize will be reviewed separately by OLG and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.

"The payment of prizes to Insiders is held for 30 days to allow anyone with concerns regarding the prize to come forward," explained the release.

Jo-Ann, 49, and Gaetan, 51, purchased the ticket at the Hawkesbury Pharma Prix for their chance at the jackpot.

The Champagnes owned and operated another Hawkesbury store -- Jo's Depanneur -- until October 2011. Jo-Ann continued to work at the store until recently, according to the OLG report.

Under the "No Play at Work" policy, OLG retailers are banned from purchasing, checking or redeeming their tickets at their own place of employment.

However, they are allowed to play at other retail locations, though prizes won at other outlets are subject to review.

On New Year's Eve, the Champagnes checked their ticket while driving to Ottawa. At first glance, they thought they had won $50,000.

"When I checked the numbers and I saw the seven numbers were matching, that's when I realized it was $50 million," Gaetan told CTV Ottawa's Katie Griffin on Jan. 2.

The couple had played the same lotto numbers for more than two decades, without much luck. But a Quick Pick landed them the prize.

Since the launch of Lotto Max in September 2009, there have been 16 other jackpot wins.

In addition to the Champagnes' jackpot, there were also four winning $1-million MaxMillions numbers from the same draw. One ticket was sold in the Toronto area, and the three others in Western Canada.