A group of eight from Ontario has a big reason to celebrate after taking home a $1 million lottery jackpot.
Thi Thao said she and her fellow group members — Ha-Ngoc Do, Sean Khoi Do, Hoai Thu Pham, Phi Hung Nguyen, Thi Ha Quyen Nguyen, Linh Nhi Vu, and Thi Kim Ho — were “shocked and thrilled” to learn of their win.
Thao is a restaurant owner who has been playing the lottery for the past 30 years. She recently started playing Lotto Max with the group, which is comprised of friends, family, and co-workers.
While picking up her prize at OLG headquarters in Toronto, Thao said that when she checked the ticket, she “couldn’t believe” they had won.
“I was with another group member at the time, and we both started freaking out in the best way possible!” she shared, adding that she immediately texted the other group members after.
“We are all so happy and excited! This win is miraculous,” she concluded.
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The winning ticket was purchased at Galleria Supermarket on Yonge Street in Thornhill.
This group of lottery players aren’t the only ones who have recently split a large prize.
This past summer, coworkers from Southern Ontario finally hit the jackpot after playing the lottery together for seven years. The group of 27, who all work at the same post-secondary institution, took home a $500,000 prize.
Another group of 19 strangers from Quebec also took home a $5 million jackpot in October.
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.