TORONTO -- A Hamilton, Ont., autoworker says he called his mom over for coffee the moment he realized he was holding onto the winning ticket in a $30-million lottery jackpot.
Nick Takticos says he had just gotten home around 4 a.m. from the night shift when he checked his Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. Lotto Max tickets online and saw he was a winner.
He says he didn't even know how much the Aug. 30 draw was worth until he compared his ticket's numbers and saw they matched.
Takticos, 35, says he immediately rang his mother with news of the big win, though he says she didn't believe him until she laid eyes on the ticket.
He says he's quit his job but isn't quite sure what to do with the windfall -- though he's considering staying in Hamilton and picking up a private box to watch the city's CFL team.
Another big lottery payout may come soon, as OLG says Friday's $15-million Lotto Max draw was won with a single ticket bought in Pembroke, Ont.
Takticos said he was so floored after realizing he had a winning ticket that he took time claiming the prize.
"I was in such shock. My head was spinning. I needed time to let it sink in," he said in a release Monday.
Takticos added: "I still need to wrap my head around it. It's like there were all these doors closed to me on the Thursday before the draw, and suddenly, all those doors are now open! There are fun times ahead though!"
