2024-01-25

ST. JOHN’S (N.L.) – When Katherine Russell of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, N.L. checked some of her recent lottery tickets after the draws, she thought it looked like she may have won something big on her Lotto 6/49 ticket from Nov. 25, 2023.

Russell soon learned that something big was actually the guaranteed Gold Ball draw prize worth $1 million.

“When I told John, my common-law, he didn’t believe me. ‘Yeah right,’ was his response,” Russell said. “I said, ‘Yes, look here’s the number, I have that number. We won something.’”

Russell went directly to the nearest lottery retailer and was in shock when the store manager told her she had won the $1-million Gold Ball draw prize.

“With that, I was shaking, and tears started to run down my cheeks,” Russell said. “She asked if I was going to be alright, I won’t tell you what I said.”

Lotto 6/49 draws take place every Wednesday and Saturday with two multi-million jackpots available to be won. The classic jackpot is always set at $5 million and the Gold Ball jackpot starts at $10 million and can grow past $60 million. The Gold Ball draw guarantees a winning ticket on every draw, with the winner taking home $1 million if a white ball is drawn or the growing Gold Ball jackpot when a gold ball is drawn. A white ball was drawn on Nov. 25, 2023 leading to Russell’s $1-million win.

“I called John and he still didn’t believe me, so I had to give the phone to her to tell him,” Russell said. “It finally clicked with him then.”

When Russell returned home from the store, John gave her a big hug, did his happy dance and they sat down together to call Katherine’s siblings and share the good news.

Plans for Russell’s prize money include home renovations, an Alaskan Cruise and celebrating their big win together with all their kids.

A Lotto 6/49 Gold Ball Jackpot prize worth $64 million sold in Gloucester County, N.B. for the April 15, 2023 remains unclaimed. The prize is set to expire on April 15, 2024, in which case the funds would be redistributed to players in the form of future prizing.

Russell purchased her winning Lotto 6/49 ticket at Woodward's C-Store and Gas Station Downtown in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, N.L. The retailer will receive a one per cent seller’s prize.

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Media contact:
Lindsay Meekins
Atlantic Lottery Public Relations Strategist
506-431-6466
lindsay.meekins@alc.ca

Backgrounder: About Lotto 6/49

• Lotto 6/49 holds draws every Wednesday and Saturday with two multi-million jackpots available to be won.
  
  
• Each $3 ticket includes one Classic Draw selection of six numbers players can choose or use Insta Pik to have the numbers selected for them, and a 10-digit computer generated Gold Ball Draw number.
  
  
• The Classic Jackpot is always set at $5 million.
  
  
• The Gold Ball Jackpot starts at $10 million and can grow past $60 million.
  
  
• The Gold Ball draw guarantees a winning ticket on every draw. The winner of the Gold Ball draw will take home either $1 million, or the growing Gold Ball jackpot.
  
  
• For $1 each, players can add TAG and Atlantic 49. These add-on games give you additional chances to win and are only available in Atlantic Canada.