2025-04-04

ST. JOHN’S (N.L.) – Richard Simms of Paradise, N.L. and his wife Elora have long dreamed of winning the lottery and what they would do with the prize money. Now, the couple can let their imaginations rest and make those plans a reality thanks to their recent Set for Life top-prize win.

“I was on my lunch break at work, sitting in my truck and I remembered I had a ticket in my visor that I hadn’t scratched yet,” Simms said. “I scratched it and I was in total shock, I couldn’t believe I actually won. I was too excited to go back to work that day.”

Atlantic Lottery’s Set for Life is a $4 Scratch’N Win ticket that offers two options for the top prize. Winners can choose to receive $1,000 a week for 25 years, or a lump sum payment of $675,000. Simms opted to receive the lump sum payment.

Once reality started to sink in, Simms was eager to share the news with his family.

“I told my wife and she was jumping up and down, screaming and freaking out,” Simms said. “We’re overwhelmed excited. We’re to the moon we’re so excited.”

The couple has always said if they ever won the lottery, they would buy their first home and take some family trips. Thanks to their big win, they now plan to do exactly that. The search for their first family home is already underway and plans for a family vacation are also in the works.

“The Set for Life prize is just such a great prize to win,” Simms said. “It can completely change your life there’s so many possibilities, so it’s always been an attractive ticket to buy for us.”

Simms is the second Set for Life top-prize winner from Newfoundland and Labrador so far in 2025. Daniel Beason from Colinet, N.L. also won the big prize worth $675,000 on a Set for Life ticket that his granddaughter gave him for his birthday in February.

Simms purchased the winning Set for Life ticket at the Paradise North Atlantic in Paradise, N.L. The seller will receive a one per cent seller’s prize.


Media contact:
Lindsay Meekins
Atlantic Lottery Public Relations Strategist
506.431.6466
lindsay.meekins@alc.ca


BACKGROUNDER: Set for Life Scratch’N Win Ticket
· Set for Life is a $4 Scratch’N Win ticket which has two options for the top prize - $1,000 a week for 25 years or a lump sum of $675,000.
· This was the sixth top prize claimed in the 4091 series of the game, launched on April 24, 2024.
· Seven top prizes are available to be won on the 4099 series, launched on April 1, 2025.