$75 million prize claimed by one of Canada’s biggest lottery winners ever

An Ontario man has claimed a $75 million prize, becoming the second-biggest lottery winner in Canadian history.

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation announced Thursday that Kingston resident David Hatt took home the top prize from the Aug. 19 Lotto Max draw.

And it appears it was a last-minute decision that led him to the winning ticket.

“The night before the draw, as I was passing the gas station where I usually get my lottery tickets, something told me to buy a ticket, so I got a Lotto Max quick pick and didn’t think any more about it,” Hatt said in an OLG news release.

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“The next morning, as I was in line at a drive-thru waiting for my coffee, I remembered to check the ticket.”

Hatt checked the ticket using the OLG app and initially thought he had won $75,000.

“I thought that was awesome. It wasn’t until I took a closer look that I noticed there were a lot more zeros,” he said.

Hatt immediately rushed home to tell his wife.

“I went home right away and said, ‘I need you to sit down.’ I showed her the screen on the app, and she asked in disbelief, ‘Is that $75 million?’ I loudly said ‘yes!’”

The win makes Hatt the biggest Lotto Max winner in Ontario history and the second-biggest lottery winner in Canadian history, behind a B.C. man who won an $80 million jackpot earlier this year.

With all of the money, Hatt said he and his wife want to support people.

“Of course, we want to support our family, but we also want to give back to our community and assist the most vulnerable in our area. It’s not about helping one charity, but about reaching as many people as possible for the longest amount of time,” he said.

Since learning about his big win, Hatt said he has taken time to research and plan. He has also assembled a team of professionals to help him navigate the windfall, the release said.

“My kids are helping me to keep my head in the clouds with them as they dream about their future,” Hatt said.

In addition to helping others, Hatt said his plans include a new home and travelling.

“We’ve always had a dream of having that special property or that special house and it was just that, a dream. My wife and I always talk about it, but it wasn’t affordable before. Now that dream will become a reality,” he said.

In terms of travel, Europe is on his list.

“My wife and I want to see many places in Europe, but not just the main cities,” Hatt said.

“We really want to explore the small towns, countrysides, and rural areas. Those experiences will be really special for us.”

Hatt said he will also buy himself a new set of golf clubs.

The winning ticket was bought in Kingston at Pioneer/Snack Express on Bath Road.

Photos via the OLG