Saying “yes” to Encore paid off for John Mark Aguilar of Collingwood. He matched all seven Encore numbers in exact order in the December 2, 2025 LOTTO MAX draw to win $1 million.
One morning, the 36-year-old chef noticed an email from OLG. “At first, I didn’t pay much attention to it, but the subject line said I had a winning ticket on my account. I was heading out for the day, so I didn’t open it right away,” he recalled while at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to collect his windfall.
“I logged into my account later and saw that I won big, but I still didn’t realize how much. Initially, I thought it couldn’t have been more than $10,000. I started scrolling further down and that’s when I saw it — $1 million! I was in shock and disbelief and began to shake.”
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John Mark called his partner over to show her the win on his phone. “I had shown her the email earlier in the day, but she was skeptical, thinking it could’ve been a scam. When I pulled up the message, reality sank in. We started jumping and screaming with joy.”
“Even sitting here at the Prize Centre, it doesn’t feel real,” he reflected. “I think it’ll finally hit me once I see the cheque and the money in my bank account. This win is the perfect way to end the year, and it came just in time for the holidays. It will certainly be a year to remember.”
With his winnings, John Mark plans to buy a house, invest in his business, and spend a portion on his children.
