Linda Coyle of Kingston has won $100,000 in the April 8, 2025 LOTTO MAX draw by matching the last six of seven ENCORE numbers in exact order.
Coyle, a 76-year-old retiree, has been purchasing lottery tickets since she became eligible. She plays weekly and participates in multiple games, including LOTTO MAX, LOTTO 6/49, DAILY GRAND, and LOTTARIO. She alternates between selecting her own numbers and using the Quick Pick option but consistently adds ENCORE to her plays.
“I picked up this ticket as part of my regular routine,” she said while collecting her prize at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto. “A week after I bought it, my daughter checked it for me and discovered I’d won $100,000! My grandson confirmed the win, but I still had a hard time believing it. We were all shocked and counted the zeroes again, just to be sure.”
Coyle described her reaction as disbelief followed by excitement. “I was like, ‘OMG — I won the lottery!” she said. She and her children shared the news with other family members. “Everyone thought we were joking at first,” she said. “When they realized we were serious, they were all thrilled for me.”
Coyle plans to use the prize to renovate her house, assist her children financially, and set aside a portion as a financial cushion. She also intends to take a vacation. “Being a winner feels fantastic!” she said.
The winning ticket was purchased at Bayridge Grocery on Development Drive in Kingston.
Photo: OLG.ca
