Press release

Montréal, September 8, 2017 – Two days after the Lotto 6/49 draw that made them multi-millionaires, the first winners of the $16,042,016 jackpot dropped by Loto-Québec to claim their prize. Mathieu Huard and Jean Pierre Couturier, both from Montréal, as well as André Prieur and his spouse, Ginette Robidoux, from Lanaudière, each took home a share worth $3,208,403!

Another winner will come claim their prize on Monday. The holder of the fifth share has not yet come forward. It should be noted that the winners do not know each other.

Summary

• Lottery: Lotto 6/49 played with Formule groupe
• Prize won: $16,042,016
• Category: Jackpot
• Draw date: September 6, 2017
• Winners’ place of residence: Montréal and Lanaudière
• Retailer: Shell (13200 Rue Sherbrooke Est, Pointe-aux-Trembles)
• Claim centre: Loto-Québec head office, Montréal

A winning round of golf

• On his way to play golf, Mr. Couturier purchased the Lotto 6/49 Formule groupe ticket offered by the store manager.
• Mr. Couturier got up during the night and decided to check his ticket.
• “I’ve got all six numbers!” he exclaimed after seeing the results.
• The lucky winner plans to share some of the winnings with family and make investments.

Good news on the way to work

• Almost every morning, Mr. Huard, who lives in Montréal but was born in Gaspésie, stops at the Shell Service Station on Sherbrooke Street East in Pointe-aux-Trembles.
• At 6:30 a.m. on Friday, September 8, the clerk said: “I’m not sure, but I think you won a big prize!” 
• Mr. Huard quickly had his ticket validated and the good news was confirmed.
• The lucky winner plans to pay off his house, make some investments for the future, buy a fishing boat and... get married!

Big surprise!

• Mr. Prieur usually buys his lottery tickets and checks the results for the previous draw when he’s on the road. After collecting a free play and confirming a non-winning ticket on the morning of September 7, he got a big surprise when he saw all the numbers displayed on the self-serve ticket checker!
• “I couldn’t believe it! My legs were like jelly,” he explained. “I went to another retailer to check my ticket again, just in case there was a mistake!”
• Mr. Prieur announced the news to his spouse, Ginette Robidoux, when he got home: “He asked me, in a singsong voice, guess how much we won... and it starts with 3. I said $3,000? He said no... Not $300,000? No! My heart started beating very fast... and he said that we had won $3,000,000!”
• Coming out of Loto-Québec’s head office, Ms. Robidoux went to buy her DREAM pair of shoes! As for the remainder of their winnings, the couple will take some time to think about it.

Lottery prize payments in gaming establishments

Lottery winners may claim their prizes at the Trois-Rivières and Québec City gaming halls, Loto-Québec’s Montréal and Québec City offices, or at the Casino de Montréal, Casino du Lac-Leamy, Casino de Charlevoix or Casino de Mont-Tremblant. All details are on the You’ve won? page of the Lotteries site.

About Loto-Québec

Loto-Québec’s mission is to responsibly and efficiently manage games of chance in a controlled and measured fashion, in the interest of all Quebecers. Entertainment is at the heart of its activities. From January 1 to September 8, 2017, Loto-Québec paid out 81 prizes worth $1 million or more and created 97 millionaires. Gagnant à vie! and Grande Vie lotteries have provided 23 lucky winners with a lifetime annuity.