TORONTO -
All the wishing and hoping has paid off, literally, for several lottery players after four winning tickets were produced in Saturday's colossal 6-49 draw.
Four golden tickets were sold for the $50.3 million jackpot, the second hugest in Canadian history. While the winners have yet to surface, it's known that three were bought in Ontario and one was purchased in Quebec.
Ontario's lucky few would have stood in long lines somewhere in Halton and Durham regions, in the Greater Toronto Area, and the Sudbury area in northern Ontario, said Teresa Roncon, a spokeswoman for the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation.
"We don't have any details at this time, we don't know if it's a single person at this time, or a family, if the tickets are being shared by two or 20," she said, explaining the exact location is kept secret for internal security reasons.
It's now up to people to check their tickets and come forward to claim the corresponding $12.6 million for each winning ticket.
Debbie Comek, who works at Winks Mac's Convenience Store in Sudbury, said there's been non-stop buzz about what customers would do if they won: spend the money on family, buy a new car, go on vacation.
She would be delighted if a fortuitous ticket holder turned up at her store. "That would be awesome, I'd be floored. I'd probably have a heart attack," she said.
"I'd congratulate them and join in with them celebrating and do the happy dance."
With four recent lotteries where no one selected the winning numbers, Saturday's draw was boosted sky high to an expected $48 million. The possibility of taking home that much cash spurred sales and pushed the total prize amount to $50.3 million.
"There was definitely a lot of attention paid to this jackpot," Roncon said.
"These are tough economic times and people were certainly looking for something a little escapist, and that's what they get with a lottery."
Customers were flocking from several giant apartment buildings surrounding Oshawa Grand Convenience Store, in Durham region, since Ambalal Pandya opened at 9 a.m. to check their numbers.
"I am praying to God that it might be my store," he said, adding he'd take a photograph of the winner with his lotto machine and post it in the window.
"I'd be happy, because that credit goes to the store. So if I want to sell the store in the future, that would be credit for us."
There's been loads of excited anticipation around the store, he said.
"One thing with (my customers), they don't want to take $48 million, even they say 'I am ready to share with another 10 people."'
The region in Quebec where the winning ticket was sold wasn't immediately available.
Based on sales, some 40 per cent of 6-49 winners typically come from Ontario, Roncon said.
Ontario ticket sales for the draw totalled $36 million. Total sales across Canada were $79.5 million.
Ticket holders are advised to sign their tickets to prove ownership. Once a winner comes forward, they must go through a validation process.
Winners have up to a year to claim their prize.
In addition to the big winners, there were 20 people across Canada who matched five numbers, plus the bonus, to win $224,863 each.
The biggest lottery jackpot ever in Canada was $54 million, won by 17 oil and gas workers in Camrose, Alta., in 2005.
