Lotto 649 jackpot after 25 years: Ontario man finally wins big after playing once a week for decades

Waterford, Ont. resident Morris Zakamarko, 68, won second prize worth $205,709.40 in the August 20 Lotto 6/49 draw. PHOTO BY OLG /CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

A man who’s been playing the lotto once a week for 25 years has finally scored a jackpot.

Morris Zakamarko of Waterford, Ont. says he always plays the Quick Picks and while it's taken a few decades, it’s certainly paid off.

The 68-year-old remembers the Sunday morning he learned that his luck had changed for the better.

“I went out to grab a coffee and a printout of the winning numbers,” he said. “I handed the slip to my wife to check while I went out.”

Upon returning home, Zakamarko’s wife was eager to share the news.

“She stared at me and said, ‘You have to check this,’” he recalled. “And to my surprise, I saw I was a winner! I was thrilled!”

The retiree won $205,709.40 in the second prize of the August 20 Lotto 6/49 draw. He described the feeling of finally winning the lotto as “a kind of joy words can’t describe.”

A home renovation project and a new car are some of the things Zakamarko plans to put his winnings towards. His winning ticket was bought at a convenience store in Waterford.

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