2024-03-13

ST. JOHN’S (N.L.) – Using the same set of lottery numbers he has played for 30 years, Dennis Hobbs of Keels, N.L. matched all six numbers drawn for the March 9, 2024 Lotto 6/49 draw, making him the $5-million Classic Jackpot winner.

“I was like, ‘Wow, it’s really happened,’” Hobbs said. “This big weight came off me. I finally made it.”

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.

Hobbs intends to use a portion of his prize money to help his children, buy them both a new vehicle, and travel with them. He said he may eventually buy or build a new home and will purchase his dream car.

“I dreamed that if I ever won the lottery, I would buy myself a brand-new Ferrari, and help out family and friends, people that are good to me,” Hobbs said. “People dream and dream but now I’m making the dream become a reality.”

He also said he does not plan to retire – at least not right away.

"My heart wants to stay home and not go back to work but I don’t want to let my friends and coworkers down. I’ve been with them 10 years, same crew, and I’ll probably put one more season in for the hell of it.”

While Hobbs has been a long-time lottery player, he never actually dreamed that he would take home such a monumental prize.

“I go off in my own little world and snap back and think, ‘Wow, I got all this money now,’” Hobbs said. “I’ll be like, ‘Oh wow, oh my god,’ then people will be texting me, telling congratulations and it’s like, wow, this is it, I did it.”

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.

Hobbs purchased his winning Lotto 6/49 ticket at Taylor’s Service Station & Convenience in King’s Cove, 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.