Friends split $1-million prize in Thunder Bay, Ont.

Two friends from Thwho person been paying the lottery arsenic a mode to enactment connected struck it large successful aboriginal September, winning $1 cardinal successful a Lotto 6/49 draw.

Daniel Kukko and Werner Maute of Thunder Bay, Ont., won a prize worthy $1 cardinal successful the Gold Ball Draw connected Sept. 4, 2024.

The two, who were erstwhile coworkers,  person been friends for 30 years and told the Ontario Lottery Gaming Corporation they person been playing the lottery unneurotic arsenic a mode to enactment connected.

“I scanned our LOTTO 6/49 summons connected the OLG app and saw a clump of zeros and commas,” Kukko recalled arsenic the brace claimed their winnings successful Toronto.

“I checked it again and showed my household to marque definite what I was seeing was real. Then I took a screenshot and sent it to Werner.”

Maute says helium was connected abrogation successful Germany erstwhile helium learned of the prize. “When I received the screenshot, I was wowed. It was unbelievable for a fewer seconds, and past I was flooded with joy,” Werner said.

Trending Now

He says helium called Kukko and joked, saying, “I anticipation this is existent due to the fact that this is 1 costly telephone call!”

He says his person laughed, responding, “I deliberation you tin spend it.”

As for what comes next, Maute plans to stock his winnings with his child, bash immoderate enactment astir the house, and bask a vacation.

Kukko intends to retire, stock with his children, wage immoderate bills, and travel.