Six winners share Lotto 6/49 millions

NEWS RELEASE

ONTARIO LOTTERY & GAMING CORPORATION

************************* On cloud 6/49: Group of six Kitchener residents win $6.8 million Lotto 6/49 jackpot

TORONTO (January 18) - The Alievski sisters have been working together at the same family restaurant in Kitchener for 17 years and are used to their regular customers joking around with them.

So when their lottery pool group leader Chuck Terry came into the restaurant and announced that their group of six had won big in the Wednesday, January 12 Lotto 6/49 draw, they just kept on working thinking that he was joking.

"He came into the restaurant, all nonchalant, and first said that we won $2. He gave me the validation slip but it didn't have the amount on it, so I threw it onto the counter on the kitchen and focused on getting through the dinner rush," laughed Qerime Alievski.

Her curiosity got the better of her though, and asked to see the ticket.

When she saw that the group had won $6.8 million, her sisters say she almost fainted.

"She just could not believe it," laughed her sister Gurabie.

The six group members - Qerime, Shuki and Gurabie Alievski, Chuck Terry, Brian Hutchins and Kevin Ray - arrived at the OLG Toronto Prize Centre on Monday to claim their prize and were excited about their win.

"Word has gotten out already, and people have been calling and congratulating us," said Shuki.

Both Terry and Hutchins are close to retirement and happy about their new future.

Ray is a local machinist.

As for the sisters, all in their mid-30s, they say quitting their jobs is not in the future.

"We like where we work. We're just going to take it day by day. We haven't really thought about what we're going to do with the money," smiled Shuki.

The winning ticket was purchased at Happy Variety on Highland Road in Kitchener.

Since Lotto 6/49 was launched in June 1982, Ontario players have won more than $9.4 billion in prizes, including 1,203 jackpot wins. As of January 18, 2011, there have been 2,816 Lotto 6/49 draws.

For more information, please visit here and click on Lotteries.

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 $32 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.

PHOTO CAPTION: From left - Gurabie Alievski, Chuck Terry, Qerime Alievski, Brian Hutchins, Shuki Alievski and Kevin Ray.

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