TORONTO, July 12, 2024 /CNW/ – For the fourth time since April, the LOTTO MAX jackpot has been won in Ontario! Laurene Shail and Doltan Hawk of Milton have been partners and regular lottery players for the past 25 years. The couple started playing LOTTO MAX together when it was introduced in 2009 and today, they are Ontario’s newest multi-millionaires, celebrating their $55 million LOTTO MAX jackpot win from the June 14, 2024, LOTTO MAX draw.
As the excitement and reality of their win sets in, Laurene and Doltan hope that for the most part, things don’t change too much, and that they remain the “regular people” they were before their windfall. While they look forward to purchasing a home and a new fishing boat, Laurene says the ultimate plan is to take care of family. “We want them to feel the joy with us. They deserve it as much as we do. They deserve to not have to work multiple jobs and can now spend more time together as a family, which is how it should be.”
It was the Saturday morning after the draw, when Doltan checked their ticket using the OLG app. “I didn’t know what I was seeing, so I called out for Laurene,” said Doltan. “I told her to pull out her phone and check the ticket herself. I was checking to see the number of winning tickets and said, ‘It can’t be!’ I didn’t know what to do.”
“I had one foot in the shower when I heard Doltan yelling,” Laurene recalled. “I thought maybe something had happened to him. He was shaking from head to toe, and I asked him, ‘Are you okay?’ He asked me to check the ticket and ran to get my glasses. Then I thought he was pranking me,” she chuckled. “I put on my glasses and thought ‘This can’t be real! This can’t be happening to us!'”
Overwhelmed and still in shock, Laurene and Doltan headed to the store to have their ticket validated. In that moment, their lives were forever changed. “The lottery terminal froze, and I noticed the store clerk was shaking,” Doltan shared, reliving the life-changing moment. “Next thing we knew, OLG was calling to talk to us. It was then that reality set in. We had the winning ticket.” Laurene also recalled the gravity of the moment. “It was surreal. I was in shock, shaking, and my mouth was so dry. The store clerk was incredibly kind and brought me a bottle of water.” Laurene’s thoughts immediately turned to what this meant for their family. “The first thing that went through my mind, was the impact this would have on our children and grandchildren. They’re our world!”
With their winning ticket in hand, Laurene and Doltan made one more stop. “We went straight to my mom’s, and she couldn’t believe it, placing her hands over her face when we told her,” said Laurene. “We turned on the TV to show her the winning ticket had been sold in Milton and while she was certainly shocked, she was happy beyond words for us.”
“When we told our family, they looked at us like we had two heads,” Doltan laughed. “We have family all over the province and have had some fun conversations with even more special moments to come, the kind of moments that will fill my heart for a lifetime. Everyone has been so supportive and happy for us. It’s been a humbling experience.”
After sharing the news with those who mean the most to them, Laurene and Doltan had one more order of business. “We are both officially retired,” they shared. Surprised to learn that Laurene’s career in logistics was ending abruptly, her supervisor asked her if she had won the lottery. “I couldn’t help myself,” she smiled. “My answer was ‘Yes, I did!'”
With their windfall now in the bank, Laurene and Doltan look forward to their future and that of their family. “We’re going to buy our dream home, close to our family who we love so much,” said Laurene. “Doltan wants to treat himself to a new fishing boat so he can spend his days on the water, and I would like to enjoy some travel. I have always wanted to visit Italy and Australia. I look forward to exploring the world, with our family.”
Reflecting on the last few weeks and all that has transpired, Laurene and Doltan expressed just how much their newfound fortune means to them. “When you grow up with nothing, and work hard for everything you have, a win like this is incredible,” said Doltan. “It is a dream come true to be able to help our family. It’s been an emotional rollercoaster. It’s a process that starts with disbelief and ends in pure joy,” added Laurene. “We are so happy and our hearts are full.”
“We will still be the same people. This win will not change us,” said Doltan. “I’m still going to be quiet, shy Laurene. I’ll just have the biggest smile on my face,” Laurene concluded.
The winning ticket was purchased at Convenience 4 U on Wilson Drive in Milton.
Over the past 4 months, OLG has paid out a combined $265 million in LOTTO MAX jackpot winnings to lucky Ontarians. This evening (July 12, 2024), the LOTTO MAX draw offers another jackpot of an estimated $55 million, plus an estimated 4 MAXMILLIONS.
LOTTO MAX players in Ontario have won over $8 billion since 2009, including 106 jackpot wins and 879 MAXMILLIONS prizes, right across the province. LOTTO MAX is $5 per play and draws take place on Tuesdays and Fridays.
OLG supports safe play and wants to keep the fun in the game. That’s why OLG is proud to be a leader in promoting responsible gambling with our globally recognized PlaySmart program.
SOURCE Cision Newswire
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