$60 million lottery winner from Toronto has been playing the same numbers for 20 years

After playing the same lottery numbers for 20 years, a 57-year-old mother of two, and grandmother of two, from Toronto finally won a $60 million Lotto Max jackpot.

“My husband had a dream about some lottery numbers 20 years ago,” winner Deng Pravatoudom said in a statement.

Pravatoudom immigrated to Canada from Laos with her 14 sibling in 1980 and her family was sponsored by a local church.

“I am thankful for the great support they provided us over the years,” she said. “My husband and I have worked long hours as general labourers for over 40 years, trying to save what we could for our family.”

Pravatoudom was laid off from her job last spring, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and is thankful that she now has these funds to make her family’s lives easier.

Winning in the Dec. 1, 2020 Lotto Max draw, Pravatoudom bought the winning ticket at the Gateway Newstands on Yonge St. in North York. She ended up checking an existing Lotto Max ticket and discovered she won a Free Play ticket, which she used and added an encore. It was that ticket that resulted in her multi-million dollar win.

“I couldn’t believe a few days later that free ticket would be worth $60 million,” she said.

“I went to the bank to pay some bills and my husband went to check the tickets. When we got into the car, he told me we won the $60 million jackpot. He was serious, not joking, so I knew he was telling the truth. I started to cry. I have always prayed for a blessing that my family would be taken care of!”

Pravatoudom’s children were overwhelmed when they heard the great news.

“They said, ‘Mom and Dad you have worked so hard for 40 years and made many sacrifices, so you deserve this happiness,” she revealed.

With the $60M prize, Pravatoudom and her husband have plans to move our of their apartment and buy a house, pay some bills, and help her children and extended family. When it is safe, they also plan on travelling.

“Except for when I came to Canada from Laos, I have never really travelled so I want to see Europe, Texas, Hawaii… I am excited to see the world,” she said.

In Ontario, Lotto Max player have won over $5.8 billion since 2009, including 78 jackpot wins and 617 Maxmillions prizes.