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Lotto Max $65,000,000 ticket winner was 'almost homeless' and wants to help other military veterans

$65 million Lotto Max winner Jansen Ng of East Gwillimbury (OLG)

Former member of the military who suffered a traumatic brain injury, Jansen Ng of East Gwillimbury, Ont., has charitable plans for his $65 million Lotto Max jackpot win from the July 6 draw.

The 41-year-old occasional lottery player bought a Quick Pick ticket at Marina’s Express Mart on Leslie St. in Sharon, Ont., while he was playing Pokémon Go.

"I had heard on the news that the jackpot had been won in my local municipality of York Region, but it didn’t really click that it could be me," Ng said.

"A few days after the draw, I went to check the ticket on a ticket checker and the message said, ‘Please See Retailer.’ I thought the ticket checker was malfunctioning and decided to check the ticket at home on the OLG Lottery App."

When Ng saw the "Big Winner" message on the app he was in disbelief and kept checking it on other devices. He finally went back to the retailer with the ticket and that’s when he truly got excited.

The first person Ng told about his win was his pastor.

I felt the responsibility of this win immediately. I wanted to be sure to use this money responsibly, so I felt my pastor was the best person to work that through with me.Jansen Ng, Lotto Max $65 million winner

Ng wants to continue to support charities and is exploring ways to set up not-for-profit foundations.

"I have travelled extensively over the years, saw much poverty and want to try to make the world a better place with some of this money," he said. "Lottery winnings used strategically and intentionally can impact the community far beyond just a simple donation."

$65 million Lotto Max winner Jansen Ng of East Gwillimbury with Kim Clark, OLG’s Vice President of Lottery and Customer Success (OLG)
$65 million Lotto Max winner Jansen Ng of East Gwillimbury with Kim Clark, OLG’s Vice President of Lottery and Customer Success (OLG)

Ng also help fellow veterans and others with non-visible injuries that impact their quality of life.

"At one point, I was almost homeless because I didn’t know how to deal with my injury," he shared.

"I was struggling with making decisions and some of the things I did were strange and irrational, but I kept the true cause hidden from the people around me. I hope to help some who are struggling as I did without having to face more personal hardships."

There is one material items he plans to buy himself, a new electric car, but not much much else.

"I’m still going to be the guy who donates blood every two months and cuts his own hair," Ng said. "I have been cutting my own hair for the last 10 years, not as a result of the pandemic, and think I do a pretty good job at it."

People buy lottery tickets because of hope. Hope has been diminished a bit for some because of the pandemic, but I want to encourage everyone to hang in there. I’ve gone through a lot of hardship, but hope helped me to get up every time I’ve fallen. Look forward to tomorrow. Who knows, you might win the lottery as well.Jansen Ng, Lotto Max $65 million winner