3 GTA friends share $1-million lottery win

Three longtime friends from the GTA are $1 million richer after winning the Lotto/649 Gold Ball Draw.

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Stephenton White, of Ajax, Alrick McLaren, of Whitby and Joseph Galluzzo, of Markham, have been playing the lottery together for eight years.

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White checked their ticket on the OLG app when he discovered their big win on Nov. 8.

“I saw the Big Winner screen and thought, ‘Holy cow!’” he told OLG.

“Alrick just drove away, and I called him to tell him to come back!”

The two men took a screenshot of the big win and sent a photo to Galluzzo.

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“I thought it was a $1,000 win at first,” Galluzzo told OLG. “I was so excited when I realized it was $1 million! It’s unbelievable news.”

Added McLaren: “It’s so special to win this with the guys. We have so much history together.”

Said White: “I always hoped to win with these two. They’re good guys and our friendship is real.”

All three plan to use their portion of the winnings to invest in property.

The winning ticket was purchased at Petro Canada on Markham Rd.in Markham.