I won lottery jackpot after buying ticket on a whim while my dog was in the vet – here’s how I scooped the prize
A WOMAN has told how she bought a winning lottery ticket by “fluke” after deciding to “kill some time at the store” while taking her dog to the vet.
Jacqueline Attfield, from Ontario, Canada, bought the ticket by chance in late July and only recently checked her numbers.
But she was stunned to discover she had won the equivalent of £65,000.
The retiree, who has been playing the lottery regularly for more than 35 years, said she realised she had won a cash prize because the screen appeared differently to usual, but initially thought it was a far smaller win.
The lucky winner said: “I took a closer look and thought I won $1,000, but after looking again, I noticed it said ‘Big Winner’ and saw the actual amount.”
Jacqueline matched six of the seven Encore numbers in exact order for the 23 July Ontario Lottario draw, netting her the £65,000 cash sum.
Read more on money
After visiting the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to pick up her winnings, she said she bought her ticket by chance because she was killing time while taking her dog to the vet.
With time on her hands, she bought the ticket at a Convenience store in the small town of Port Perry.
Jacqueline added: “I love the Instant games. Purchasing this ticket was a fluke. I was killing some time at the store while taking my dog to the vet.”
While at the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation Prize Centre, she told lottery officials that she plans to use the cash to pay off some bills, buy a new car, and put the rest in the bank for a rainy day.
Most read in Money
In May this year, a woman from British Columbia bought a Lotto 649 ticket while waiting for a friend and ended up scooping $10.9 million (£7.1 million).
However, another man claimed he was left high and dry after his pals allegedly cut him out after winning £600,000 on the lottery.
Ontario resident Philip Tsotsos was left out of the massive prize that was won by the group of sixteen pals last summer, and decided his only option was to sue.
Seeking £40,000 and other costs, including interest, he discovered the group had won on social media.
He said: "I don't wish them anything bad. I wish them nothing but success in life, but why ruin my dream?"