Couple wins huge lottery jackpot (photo)

NEWS RELEASE

ONTARIO LOTTERY AND GAMING CORPORATION

************************* Niagara Falls area couple win $41.3 Million Lotto 6/49 jackpot

TORONTO (July 19, 2011) - When Carmen DeMizio's three children heard that he had called them all to his house for a family meeting this past Sunday, they never suspected that Carmen was going to tell them that he and his wife Loretta were the Niagara Falls winners of the $41.3 million Lotto 6/49 jackpot that the city was buzzing about.

"Our kids were all wondering why we wanted them to come over. We handed them all a glass of wine, and asked them to take a look inside an envelope where we had placed the winning ticket and the printout of winning numbers," explained DeMizio. "When we told them we won the lottery, they were all jumping up and down and screaming and crying. They were overwhelmed."

Carmen and Loretta are both retired Niagara Falls school teachers and have been playing the same lottery numbers for approximately twenty years.

When he checked his ticket and realized that he won the big jackpot, he said he was stunned.

"I went to sit in my car and just sat there, processing everything. It was hard to believe," he said.

Loretta was just as shocked when he told her the news, and after checking OLG.ca a few times to confirm they had a winning ticket, her very first thought was that now life would be easier.

"Our initial reaction was the realization that now we could help our family out. We have a large family and we're very close-knit and we hope to be able to share this with them," she smiled.

As for other purchases with their new-found wealth, Loretta says some travelling is in the future.

"I want to go to Las Vegas and then Italy for a month to rent a villa somewhere," she explained.

Carmen agrees and says that he is looking forward to a European vacation.

"But first I'm going to fix up my MG which I've had since 1972. The motor died and it's needed fixing for a long time. That's going to be my first project!" he said enthusiastically.

As for being excited with this win, Carmen says he was as cool as a cucumber.

"I didn't get excited until I came to the Prize Centre. I wanted to be sure we were the winners. But now I'm excited!" he smiled.

The winning ticket was purchased at Avondale Convenience on Saint Paul Avenue in Niagara Falls.

OLG is a provincial agency responsible for province-wide lottery games and gaming facilities.

Since 1975, OLG lotteries, casinos, slots, and resort casinos have generated more than $34 billion for the benefit of the Province of Ontario.

Gaming proceeds support Ontario's hospitals, amateur sport, recreational and cultural activities, communities, provincial priority programs such as health care and education, and local and provincial charities and non-profit organizations through the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Know your limit, play within it!

The Ontario problem gambling helpline number is 1-888-230-3505.

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