Canadian shocked to find winning lottery ticket in old coat pocket
A regular evening quickly turned into a memorable one when a Canadian lottery player made a surprising discovery.
Giuseppe Desimone of North York, Ont., has been trying his luck by playing the lottery for over 30 years. The 62-year-old truck mechanic said he plays Lotto Max twice every week. But one night, his long-running routine finally paid off.
“I was at home when I found out I won. It was an ordinary evening, and I had no idea something life-changing was about to happen,” he recalled.
Irish Mae Silvestre/Daily Hive
Desimone said that he and his wife were getting ready to head out to a birthday dinner and had grabbed an old coat. When he put it on, his wife pointed out that something was peeking out of his pocket.
“I pulled it out and realized it was an old lottery ticket,” he said. “I had completely forgotten about it. We decided to check it quickly before leaving, and our jaws dropped in shock when we realized it was a big winner.”
When he scanned the forgotten ticket, Desimone realized that after splitting a $1-million Maxmillions prize with another lottery player, he had won $500,000 in the Dec. 30, 2025, Lotto Max draw.
“It felt surreal — almost like a dream!” he shared. “We didn’t share the news at dinner because it didn’t feel like the time or place.”
OLG
While at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to pick up his cheque for half a million dollars, Desimone wants to save for the future and share his winnings with his two children.
“It’s a rush of happiness that’s hard to contain,” he said. “I’m incredibly grateful. Words can’t even explain how excited I am about this unexpected win.”
All forms of gambling, including the lottery, involve risk and outcomes are based on chance. Individuals are strongly advised to gamble responsibly. If you are experiencing any signs of gambling-related issues, check out these resources.