2022-11-24

CHARLOTTETOWN (P.E.I.) – John and Norma Jean Griffin of Elmsdale, P.E.I. are the Island’s newest $1-million prize winners after taking home the Gold Ball draw guaranteed prize from the Oct. 26 Lotto 6/49 draw.

“I was at Halifax airport when I saw I had the email from Atlantic Lottery and it usually says you won $4 or something, but it didn’t say so I thought maybe I won $100 or something,” John said. “When I pulled it up on my phone it said $1,000,010 and I just thought, ‘I don’t believe that.’”

John sent a text to Norma Jean, who was substitute teaching at the time, and asked her to call him as soon as possible.

“I called and couldn’t understand what he was saying because he was worked up,” Norma Jean said. “So, he gave the phone to our niece who was travelling with him and when she told me, I told her, “Stop telling me lies and joking around with me.’”

Lotto 6/49 draws take place every Wednesday and Saturday. Prior to the recent relaunch of the game, each draw offered a Guaranteed Prize draw for $1 million in addition to the main jackpot. The new Lotto 6/49 still guarantees a winning ticket every Wednesday and Saturday thanks to the Gold Ball draw, where the winner takes home either $1 million, or the growing Gold Ball jackpot that starts at $10 million and can grow higher than $60 million. The Griffins won the Gold Ball draw guaranteed prize and an additional $10 on TAG, making their total winnings $1,000,010.

Griffin said he plays on alc.ca and enjoys the convenience of purchasing his one ticket a week online.

“I used to buy about three a year and keep them in my wallet for two or three months before checking them,” John added. “Playing online just makes it more consistent.”

Plans for their winnings include doing renovations to their cottage and travelling, with a trip to Turks and Caicos first on their list. The couple said their win will also help them to retire sooner than they planned.

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Media contact:
Lindsay Meekins
Atlantic Lottery Public Relations Strategist
506-867-5800 ext. 5840
lindsay.meekins@alc.ca

Backgrounder: About Lotto 6/49

• Lotto 6/49 holds draws every Wednesday and Saturday with two multi-million jackpots available to be won.
  
  
• Each $3 ticket includes one Classic Draw selection of six numbers players can choose or use Insta Pik to have the numbers selected for them, and a 10-digit computer generated Gold Ball Draw number.
  
  
• The Classic Jackpot is always set at $5 million.
  
  
• The Gold Ball Jackpot starts at $10 million and can grow past $60 million.
  
  
• The Gold Ball draw guarantees a winning ticket on every draw. The winner of the Gold Ball draw will take home either $1 million, or the growing Gold Ball jackpot.
  
  
• For $1 each, players can add TAG and Atlantic 49. These add-on games give you additional chances to win and are only available in Atlantic Canada.