Newmarket retiree scores $65M playing Lotto Max: ’Touchdown!’
‘Honey, do you want to kiss a millionaire?’
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Sometimes it takes a shower to fully realize you’re a multimillionaire.
Retired business software analyst Mark Hanley found this out about his wife after he won the $65-million Lotto Max jackpot from the March 28 Lotto Max draw.
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The Newmarket man was up early, enjoying breakfast, when he decided to check his lottery ticket
“I’ve been playing the lottery for 30 years, and when I counted all seven numbers, I was disappointed that I didn’t match the bonus number,” he told OLG.
“Then I realized there are only seven numbers with Lotto Max, and I got the BIG ONE! When I saw there was only one winner and the jackpot was $65 million, I started jumping for joy, saying, ‘Touchdown!’”
Following his private celebration, Hanley had to decide whether or not to wake up his wife, who cherished her time asleep.
“So, I decided to share the news by saying, ‘Honey, do you want to kiss a millionaire?’” Hanley told OLG.
“Funny enough, she sternly said, ‘No,’ and tried to go back to sleep.”
Hanley then convinced his wife to get out of bed and meet him downstairs so he could show her his winning ticket.
“She looked at the ticket and thought, ‘So what …?’” he continued.
“So, I told her to go take a shower to fully wake up. When she came back, the reality of this win started to settle in, and she began crying tears of joy.”
The couple then decided to tell their grown children in person.
“We called to make sure they were home, and I said to my wife, ‘Don’t tell them anything – just say we’re coming over.’
“When they answered the phone and my wife started to talk, she began crying again. She said, ‘We’re coming to see you … I can’t tell you why … but everything’s alright.’”
Hanley started laughing and said, “Oh good, now they think someone died!”
When they arrived at the house to visit their kids, his wife “asked me if I could hold her coffee so her hands would be free to give them a hug and then she started to cry again,” he told OLG.
Their children were overcome with emotion when they were finally told the great news.
“I felt so good to tell them, and it’s a dream come true to now be able to provide for them in so many incredible ways!” he told OLG.
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Hanley plans to surprise some immediate family members with a portion of his windfall.
“They’re probably not going to believe it at first because you don’t expect someone to suddenly come out of the blue and give you a gift like this,” he told OLG.
Hanley also has his own plans.
“I want to travel the world for its food. I want to go to Italy, and especially France. I love French bread, French wine, and … oh my, French cheese!”
There’s another desire — although he might not have enough in the bank.
“I want to buy a castle, but wife won’t let me,” he said with a laugh.
“The Lotto Max commercials say, ‘Dream Bigger,’ but I still haven’t quite gotten that in my head.
“I always dreamt of winning a couple of million, but this amount is just baffling. I just feel so grateful and blessed that this win came my way.”
The winning ticket was bought at New Town Variety on Yonge Street in Newmarket.
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