Ontario man cashes in free play to win $55M lotto jackpot
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Francoise Masse, of Hawkesbury, turned his Lotto Max free play into fortune – $55 million, to be exact.
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The retiree, who spent his career in education, was leaving the grocery store when he remembered he had a free play ticket to redeem.
“I added Encore for a dollar, put the ticket in my wallet, and went on about my day,” he recalled while collecting his windfall at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto.
“A few days later, I remembered I had three tickets to check, so I scanned them using the OLG app,” Masse detailed.
He noted that the first ticket earned him another free play and the second ticket scored him $40, but it was the last one he checked, from the Jan. 9, 2026 draw, that was life-changing.
“I saw the ‘Big Winner’ message on the screen and went numb with disbelief – it was like the world stopped for a minute!”
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He continued: “It took about three hours to process the news before I called my family to tell them. Hearing the words ‘I won $55 million’ come out of my mouth felt even more unreal!”
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His family thought he was pranking them and didn’t believe him at first.
Masse wanted to tell his children in person, so he came up with an elaborate scheme to get them all to come over.
“I told them I had a gift on back order for them, and I bought them each an espresso machine as a ruse,” he said.
Once he revealed the joyful news, “there were a lot of happy tears,” he said.
Looking ahead, he’s thinking about a new home and car, but he wants to check off some dream vacations from his bucket list, including a family trip.
“I’ve always dreamed of travelling to Formula 1 races all over the world. Maybe I’ll tour some NFL stadiums and catch some football, take some golf trips, and enjoy some mother-son adventures.”
He added: “We have lots of opportunities to make memories together. I’ve also always loved horses. I never actually rode any, but I bought a stable. So when people ask if I’m into horses – well, I guess I am now!”
Ultimately, Masse wants to take care of his loved ones.
“Legacy is important to me. This win isn’t just for me – it’s for my family and the legacy we’ll leave behind.”
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