Mervin Bennett celebrated his first lottery win back in the 1980s, and he never expected that a second prize would be in the cards.
The 76-year-old factory worker and father of two from Ontario said he had just finished a round of golf and stopped at a nearby corner store to pick up some Big Spin tickets.
The Big Spin is a $5 game that combines scratch games with prizes revealed in-store by an animated spinning wheel on the lottery terminal screen. There’s also a chance to spin in person on the Big Spin wheel at the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) headquarters in Toronto.
Prizes can range between $10 to $1,000,000 depending on what numbers you end up with and the results of your spin.
Bennett wasn’t expecting much when he played his ticket, but he ended up walking away with a $350,000 prize.
OLG
The first person he called to share the good news was his son.
“I called my son first to share the good news. He was at work and missed my calls. When we did connect, all he could say was ‘You’re kidding, right?’”
As for what he plans on doing with his second lottery prize, Bennett has a few plans lined up.
“It’s time to upgrade to a new vehicle,” he shared while collecting his winnings.
He also said he plans on treating his large extended family to a fancy Christmas dinner out.
Bennett has more celebrations to look forward to as he’s turning 77 in February. He added that his jackpot will make this birthday “one to remember.”
He purchased his winning ticket at Stratford Variety on Downie Street in Stratford.
All forms of gambling, including the lottery, involve risk and outcomes are based on chance. Individuals are strongly advised to gamble responsibly. If you are experiencing any signs of gambling-related issues, you can find resources here.