TORONTO, Feb. 10, 2015 /CNW/ - Gregory Nikolopoulos went into the corner store to pick up a bag of nachos and left with a winning LOTTO MAX $50 million ticket from the Friday, February 6, 2015 draw. "I've been playing both LOTTO MAX and LOTTO 6/49 with my wife Tammy every week for fifteen years," recalled Gregory while at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto with his family, where the couple picked up their winnings.
"When I woke up the morning after the draw, I had a coffee and started checking my selections online. It's my regular routine. On the fourth selection I started realizing the numbers were matching up. I started screaming! My son was home at the time and thought something was wrong with one of our pets. Turns out we won the $50 million jackpot!"
Tammy was on vacation in the Dominican Republic with their daughter, when she learned about their win. "Gregory told me to sit down. He shared the news and I was in utter disbelief! We were lucky enough to catch the last two seats on a flight out of the Dominican Republic. We were home within 24 hours!"
"It is always great when OLG gets to celebrate with our lottery players and give away millions of dollars!" said Greg McKenzie, OLG's Senior Vice President of Lottery, as he presented the happy couple with their winnings.
Following a sleepless night, Tammy and Gregory, along with their kids took a limousine to the OLG Prize Centre. "It's $50 million! There are no words to describe this feeling. It's something you dream about, but when it actually happens it takes a while till it sinks in," said Gregory, choking back tears.
Gregory and Tammy, who have been married for 22 years, say they plan to put the money in the bank and take their time deciding what to do with it. For now though, they would like to purchase a new boat and attend the Super Bowl next year.
Tammy says, "We'll still be ourselves. But our lives are going to change. It's just so overwhelming!" Gregory, who is self-employed, says two things won't change, "I am keeping my company and I'm still going to play the lottery."
The winning ticket was purchased at The Corner Market on Mosley Street in Wasaga Beach.
Since its launch in September 2009, Ontario LOTTO MAX players have won over $2 billion in prizes, including 39 jackpot wins and 211 winning MAXMILLIONS tickets.
OLG is a provincial agency responsible for province-wide lottery games and gaming facilities. Since 1975, OLG has provided nearly $40 billion to the Province and the people of Ontario. OLG's annual payments to the Province have helped support health care; education, research, prevention and treatment of problem gambling; amateur sport through the Quest for Gold program; and local and provincial charities.
modernolg.ca
OLG is modernizing Lottery and Gaming for a better Ontario
Follow us on Twitter @modern_olg
"Know your limit. Play within it."
THE ONTARIO PROBLEM GAMBLING HELPLINE 1-888-230-3505
Disponible en français
Click here if you wish to unsubscribe from these emails.
SOURCE OLG Winners
Image with caption: "Greg McKenzie, OLG's Senior Vice President of Lottery presenting the $50 Million LOTTO MAX cheque to Wasaga Beach residence Gregory and Tammy Nikolopoulos along with their children Caiden and Jennifer. (CNW Group/OLG Winners)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150210_C7572_PHOTO_EN_11978.jpg
OLG MEDIA RELATIONS, 1-888-946-6716
OLG is a crown agency that develops world-class gaming entertainment for the Province of Ontario. Acting in a socially responsible way, OLG conducts and manages land-based gaming facilities; the sale of province-wide lottery games; Internet gaming; and the delivery of bingo...
Share this article