$15 million lottery winner announced in Ontario

The winner of a big Lotto Max jackpot last month has been revealed.

St. George, Ontario resident Raymond Gubbins won $15 million after matching seven out of seven numbers in the Jan. 20 draw, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation announced Friday.

The 62-year-old said he has been playing Lotto Max for as long as he can remember, and likes to get quick pick tickets for the draws on Tuesdays and Fridays.

The morning after the Jan. 20 draw, he woke up early and, like he usually does, was checking his tickets while having a coffee.

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And then he saw he won a life-changing prize.

“I thought I was dreaming,” Gubbins said.

“I didn’t want to wake up my wife, so I went to the supermarket to double-check my ticket. Someone in line told me someone local won big and jokingly asked if it was me. It didn’t even feel real yet.”

After getting his ticket validated, he sent a photo of the screen to his wife.

He said it feels “surreal” to have won the jackpot.

“It’s probably going to be another couple of months before it really sinks in,” he said.

Gubbins works in the grocery industry.

When his coworkers would tell him, “See you tomorrow,” he’d often reply, “Not if I win the lottery.”

Sure enough, he did and is now looking forward to retirement.

The winning ticket was bought in St. George at Esso on Beverly Street West.