Kenneth Babcock, a longtime Kingston resident, has won a $50,000 top prize playing the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s (OLG) INSTANT $50K CASINO game. The win marks the largest prize he has claimed in over 30 years of playing the lottery.
The retired father of two and grandfather of four described the unexpected circumstances leading to his win. “I stopped at my local corner store to purchase a two-litre of pop, but they were all out, so I handed the clerk a $50 bill and asked for an INSTANT ticket instead. That’s when she handed me one of the $50K CASINO tickets,” he recalled during his visit to the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto. Initially mistaking his prize for $5,000, he quickly realized he had won the full $50,000. “The longer I stared at it, the clearer it became that I had won $50,000!”
Babcock shared the reaction of the store clerk, who immediately called her employer to share the news. “He came to the store right away and told me, ‘I’m glad it was you who won this prize!’” Babcock said. The ticket was purchased at Parkway Grocery on Princess Street in Kingston.
His family was equally astonished. “When I told my son, he was sure I was joking. I pulled out the ticket and showed them how much I’d won. Their jaws dropped to the floor; they were so excited!”
Reflecting on his unexpected win, Babcock said, “To think, I went to the store to buy a $3 bottle of pop and left with $50,000! Had they not been out of my favourite drink, I might not have purchased this ticket. I feel very lucky to have won this prize.”
Babcock plans to use his winnings to pay bills and contribute to his savings. “2025 is off to a great start,” he said.
The INSTANT $50K CASINO game costs $50 per play, with a top prize of $50,000 and odds of winning any prize set at 1 in 3.68. Additional details about the game and others can be found on the OLG website.
Photo: OLG.ca