Sudbury resident Alan Wilkinson recently won the Instant Cash for Life Lottery, opting for a lump-sum payment of $675,000 rather than the $1,000 per week for life prize option.
“Instant Cash for Life and Instant Crossword are my favourite scratch games,” said Wilkinson while at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto where he picked up his big cheque.
Wilkinson scratched the tickets the day after he purchased them.
“When I realized I had a winning ticket, I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “I took a picture of it and sent it to my girlfriend. I asked her to verify that it was a winning ticket. Her response was, ‘Are you joking?’”
Wilkinson walked over to the store to validate his ticket.
“A few people in line began rubbing me for good luck,” he said.
Plans are already underway for Wilkinson’s windfall.
“The first thing that comes to mind is that I will be mortgage-free and I can retire comfortably in the next four years. This whole experience has been like a dream come true!” said Wilkinson.
Instant Cash for Life is available for $4 a play and the top prize is $1,000 a week for life. Odds of winning a prize are 1 in 3.93.
The winning ticket was purchased at Mac’s on Lasalle Boulevard in Sudbury.
