Ontario's newest Lotto 6/49 winner just won $5 million with a ticket from 2024 and almost missed out on the money.
The ticket was just a few weeks away from expiring when she realized she matched the winning numbers!
On May 14, 2025, OLG announced that a $5 million Lotto 6/49 jackpot from 2024 was just claimed.
Connie Christie of Beachville, which is east of London, won the $5 million Classic Jackpot with the draw on May 4, 2024.
Christie usually checks her tickets monthly, not when the winning numbers have been drawn. But sometimes she forgets.
She recently found a small stack of tickets that she hadn't checked yet.
Then, on April 17, 2025, OLG announced that a $5 million Lotto 6/49 jackpot prize was about to expire.
Christie heard the news about the unclaimed ticket on the radio while running errands.
"When I heard the details, I turned to my mom and said, 'I have a feeling that's my ticket.' After dropping my mom off, I went home and checked my tickets using the OLG app," Christie revealed.
"I saw the 'Big Winner' message and put my phone down to pause for a moment."
Then, Christie took another look at the app and managed to keep calm.
"The next morning, I gathered my family to share the incredible news. Everyone was speculating about what I wanted to tell them," Christie said. "I had the winning numbers pulled up on my laptop when my kids guessed, 'Did you win the lottery?'"
She told them that it was a "life-changing" win.
Lotto 6/49 winner Connie Christie.Courtesy of OLG
The Ontario resident revealed that she would always hope for a big win whenever she checked her lottery tickets.
"It feels so validating now, especially after all the times I'd head out to get my tickets and my kids would tease me," Christie said. "I'd always say, 'You can't win if you don't play.'"
Now, with the $5 million jackpot, Christie plans to retire and wants her husband to do the same.
"We can now spend our time doing what we love and enjoying our time together," she said. "I'd also like to treat my husband to a scenic road trip along the Pacific Coast Highway."
Lottery prizes expire one year after the draw date.
OLG said you should always sign your ticket right after you buy it, keep it in a safe location you'll remember and check it as soon as the winning numbers are drawn.
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