Lotto 6/49: Ontario grandfathers have one top priority in mind after $1M Gold Ball win

Three friends and former coworkers are celebrating a $1 million Lotto 6/49 Gold Ball win, and each one says their first priority is helping their grandchildren.

Clarence Kennedy of Angus, Ont., along with Kenneth Maw and Kurt Lawler of Barrie, Ont., have been playing the lottery together for years. Now, after winning the July 16, 2025 Gold Ball Draw, the retirees say they’re excited to support their grandchildren, along with some other additional plans.

In Kennedy's case, he'll finally purchase a Mustang; Maw hopes to take a relaxing trip to Ireland; and Lawler says he plans to also help his children.

The trio has had a longstanding habit of rotating who buys the group’s tickets, and this time it was Kennedy’s turn. While checking another ticket at a lottery terminal, he watched the screen flash the message every player hopes for.

“When I saw the screen said BIG WINNER, it was like a dream. I couldn’t believe it,” said Kennedy while at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to pick up their winnings.

Kennedy then quickly called his two friends to share the news, but it took a moment for the big win to sink in.

“He called me to share the news, and it took a while to believe it,” said Maw.

“I said, ‘Are you kidding me?’” added Lawler.

All three men said they were shaking as they processed their win. They each told their wives first, who were stunned and overwhelmed but thrilled for the group.

The retirees mostly enjoy playing Lotto 6/49 and Lotto Max as a group, and this time it was a lucky Lotto 6/49 ticket purchased at CNIB on Bayfield Street in Barrie, Ont., which landed their first big win.

Lotto 6/49 offers players the chance to win two multi-million-dollar jackpots on every $3 play. The Classic Draw offers a fixed $5-million jackpot every Wednesday and Saturday. The Gold Ball Draw, introduced in September 2022, guarantees a winner every time. It starts at $10 million and includes 30 balls: 29 white (each worth $1 million) and one gold, representing the growing jackpot.

The Gold Ball jackpot increases by $2 million each time a white ball is drawn until it reaches $68 million with no white balls remaining — at which point the Gold Ball is guaranteed. The trio’s $1-million win came from the Gold Ball Draw on July 16, 2025, marking their biggest group win to date.

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