A stop at a Rothesay gas station has paid off for a mechanic from eastern New Brunswick.
Juilo Roy of Acadieville won the $5-million classic jackpot in Saturday’s Lotto 6/49 draw.
“I always dreamed about winning, but once it actually happens, you don’t know what to think anymore,” Roy told reporters in Moncton on Friday.
Roy commutes more than two hours to Saint John for work and then returns home on the weekends to be with his family.
He was on his way back home and decided to stop at a gas station in Rothesay to fill up and buy some lottery tickets.
“I was at the gas station and somebody backed up and took my spot and all the others were full, so I parked to the side to wait and when it emptied, I got my fuel and went in to pay for it and thought I’d get two tickets,” said Roy.
RELATED: $5M lottery ticket sold in Rothesay
When Roy scanned the tickets during his next trip to the gas station, he found out he was a ‘major winner.’ The clerk then confirmed he had won $5 million.
Atlantic Lottery officials say Roy is the first Atlantic Canadian to win the classic jackpot since the new Lotto 6/49 launched nine months ago.
Julio Roy of Acadieville won the $5-million classic jackpot in the Lotto 6/49 draw on May 20. Image: Tara Clow
Each draw on Wednesday and Saturday now has two multi-million jackpots available to be won. The classic jackpot, which is the main draw, is always set at $5 million.
The gold ball draw winner will win either the guaranteed $1 million prize or the growing gold ball jackpot that starts at $10 million and can grow to more than $60 million.
Roy said he plans to take some time off from his work while he decides what comes next.
“It’s hard to be my age and think about not working ever again,” he said.
He and his wife, Sacha, also plan to pay off their mortgage and invest in their future. Roy is also hoping to pursue his lifelong dream of getting a pilot’s licence.
The mechanic, who has been playing the lottery since the age of 19, said he has no plans of stopping.
“I actually got a free ticket out of a Lotto Max,” said Roy. “I never checked it yet — maybe I’m the big winner.”
The winning ticket was sold at Needs on Marr Road in Rothesay, which will receive a one per cent seller’s prize.
Juilo Roy is #NewBrunswick's newest millionaire!
The mechanic from Acadieville won the $5-million classic jackpot in the Lotto 6/49 draw on May 20.
Roy bought his winning ticket as a gas station in #Rothesay. pic.twitter.com/ygcDJ1nlrO
— Brad Perry (@BradMPerry) May 26, 2023
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