Casino and Lottery Double
Last Updated: Monday 15th December 2008, 09:05
A Canadian Lottery jackpot win worth $18.5 million has been claimed by a couple from Caledon who had won $13,000 at a casino just hours before. The couple, who run a construction business, were one of two winning ticket holders who split the Lotto 6/49 jackpot of $37 million between them.
Anthony Marroco and his wife Antonietta had their initial run of good fortune at the Casino Rama in Orillia, Ontario. They won $13,000 playing slot machines and Antonietta used some of her winnings to buy $50 worth of lottery tickets. Sadly, none of those tickets won, but one that she had bought the day before did, and gave the couple an additional $18.5 million win to celebrate.
The Lotto 6/49 game is played every Wednesday and Saturday. Players are required to select 6 numbers from the range 1 to 49 and tickets cost $2 each. The odds of winning the top prize are 1 in 13,983,816, but there are five lower prize levels for those who fewer numbers. Overall, the odds of winning any prize are 1 in 32.
Antonietta told the Toronto Star that her husband was sleeping when she discovered the win, and had to wake him up to tell him the good news. Anthony said that he didn’t believe it at first, even though – like many lottery players – he had always daydreamed of winning one day.
The couple are now making plans about what to do with their double-windfall. This is never an easy task for any jackpot winner, but when the prize is worth over $18 million it is particularly challenging. At the top of their list right now is the intention of making sure that everyone in their immediate family is debt free, and then they simply want to relax and enjoy life. They have a 25th wedding anniversary coming up in December, so no doubt that will be an extra special celebration.