Lottery ‘insider’ finally gets cash
Larry Allen won $250,000, but had to wait 30 days because of family’s OLG ties
What must have felt like a really long wait has finally ended for lottery winner Larry Allen. On Wednesday, the Newmarket man claimed his $250,000 prize, won playing Instant Ice, following a 30-day waiting period imposed after the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation deemed his victory an “insider win.”
Allen, 55, had to wait because his sister-in-law is an employee at an OLG retail location, according to a news release. Before Allen could claim his prize, he had to wait 30 days while OLG publicized the win.
“I usually play Pro-Line as well as Lotto Max and Lotto 6/49,” Allen said while picking up his winnings at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto. “After I picked up my Pro-Line ticket, I happened to have an extra $10 and decided to try Instant Ice.”
Allen said he checked his ticket at home and did a double take when he realized he’d won. “I had to look over my ticket twice,” he said.
Whenever a winner is identified as an “insider,” or someone with a close connection to the lottery process — a long list of those who’d qualify is posted online — OLG sends the case to a third-party reviewer.
“It happens often, but it’s because of the process,” OLG spokesperson Tony Bitonti said.
While no statistics were immediately available on the typical wait or how frequently it happens, Bitonti said OLG sends out a news release in every case. In most cases, all is well and the winner gets their prize.
Allen said he’s going to put some of the prize money in the bank, but he also plans to share some of it with his family. With files from Emma McIntosh