Lotto MAX CA$26M Winners Set Up Foundation Commemorating Lost Son

This week has been a remarkable one for Ontario and British Columbia, as two major jackpots have been bagged over the past couple of days. Both lotto MAX Main prizes went to retirees ready to start the second chapter of their lives. The lucky St. Thomas couple bagging CA$26-million jackpot would forever remember August 6 as a special day that transformed their lives.

Lotto MAX and Lotto 6/49 are the two lottery games enjoying the biggest popularity across Canadian provinces. Many people prefer them for their affordable prices and the generous payout they feature. This May saw a cap increase of the Lotto MAX game, setting it to CA$70 million. This guaranteed even larger cash prizes for the people that manage to match all needed numbers. Lotto 6/49 has also been particularly generous over the past few months.

St. Thomas Couple Celebrates

The first days of August would go down in history as special ones, August 6 in particular, as this is when the lucky Lotto MAX draw happened for Gerry and Helen Phillips. Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation revealed that the numbers drawn were 19, 22, 28, 39, 36, 38, and 39. Even though they are positioned rather close to one another, they have a special significance to the couple and were drawn.

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As it was later revealed, the couple has been frequenting lottery retail locations, but this is not to say that they were enthusiasts playing on a daily basis. Mr. Phillips said that the first lottery ticket they purchased as a couple was back in the 1970s. However, despite their sporadic lottery ticket purchases, they never won a cash prize of this magnitude.

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The two of them had to make their way to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation Prize claim center in order to bag their hefty prize and take a photo with the special OLG cheque. Thursday was eyed as the special day and people across the province were eagerly anticipating to learn who the lucky couple is.

Family Cruise Next February

How they found out they are winners was also a special event, as it involved their loved ones as well. Mr. Phillips had breakfast with their children outside and while having a jolly time, he remembered that there is a Lotto MAX ticket that he had not checked yet. He found it in his pocket and decided it would be best if he checks it at one of the convenience stores featuring an OLG point-of-sale.

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This is one of the common ways for players to check their tickets, but there is also the OLG mobile app that allows them to scan their ticket quickly and find out whether they win or not. At first, Mr. Phillips thought that the couple is eligible for a cash prize of CA$260,000, as the number of zeros was confusing. He checked it twice on the mobile app on his tablet and sure enough, the CA$26-million prize was displayed once again.

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For the time being, the couple wants to make the best of their windfall and go on a bucket-list vacation they have always been dreaming of. The beginning of next year is about to bring a family cruise, but the Phillips also want to start a foundation commemorating their son, who got hit by an intoxicated driver 20 years ago.