Timothy Schultz:

Alton:

Not too bad, Timothy. It's good to see you.

Timothy Schultz:

You as well. Thank you so much for taking the time. You have an extraordinary story. Let's dive right into it. What did you win and how did this happen?

Alton:

I won the Lotto 6/49. It's a Ontario lottery in Toronto. It was actually $1 million tax-free. It was a very interesting win, just the feel of winning it. I knew it was going to happen, but you know that the chances are very odd. That win was interesting.

Timothy Schultz:

The probability and the odds are astronomical, as many people know. As you are an example, and so am I, you defied these odds and you actually won this game.

Alton:

The chances are one in 14 million, unlike the Powerball which is one in 290 million. Still very, very slim odds.

Timothy Schultz:

How much does it cost to play?

Alton:

I chose the option of $3 plus a Encore, which is $4 in total.

Timothy Schultz:

Is the Encore like a megaplier? You can multiply the prize?

Alton:

It's an added insurance where you could win potentially another million dollars.

Timothy Schultz:

How many balls did you need to line up?

Alton:

It was a total of six balls. There's six balls for the general ticket, and then there's a special feature that has a gold ball number and a white ball number. I actually hit the white ball number, which is $1 million. The draw is twice a week and one person is guaranteed to win a million dollars. I was the one who hit that million dollars, so I was quite shocked by that.

Timothy Schultz:

I imagine. Was this a computer pick or did you choose your own numbers?

Alton:

I always do the computer pick. I go in and I do the random pick by the computer draw. I don't have my pre-determined numbers.

Timothy Schultz:

It was just one ticket? Is that right?

Alton:

Correct, it was one ticket.

Timothy Schultz:

What was the timeframe between purchasing the ticket and when you won? How did you find out that you won?

Alton:

I had a habit of accumulating tickets, so I had probably a month of tickets. I bought the ticket on September 17th, didn't check it until Thanksgiving weekend. I had a stack of tickets, went into a local store. I was going through 20 or 30 tickets because I was making it accumulate. On the fourth ticket, that's when I scanned it and it was a big winner, a million dollars. I continued checking the remainder of the tickets, won a total of four prizes, $10, free tickets, free play, but the million dollar was the big winner. I took a picture of the win, sent it to my wife. Of course, she didn't respond because it was Thanksgiving. She was preparing a meal for the family.

Timothy Schultz:

Did she see it?

Alton:

She didn't see it until I drove back home to tell her that I actually won the million dollars. Then we postponed Thanksgiving preparation, drove back to another store to check it, to verify that it was actually a million dollars. I thought there was a computer glitch.

Timothy Schultz:

You saved the ticket. September you purchased it. You brought it in in November with a stack of other tickets.

Alton:

Canadian Thanksgiving is actually October. In America, November is for Thanksgiving.

Timothy Schultz:

Yes. There was a period of weeks, so it was the Canadian Thanksgiving. Thank you for correcting me. You brought these tickets in October and you thought there was a glitch. Walk me through this. Then you get your wife and you go to the next gas station or store and check it?

Alton:

Yes. We went back to a smaller store. There was nobody there, except for the person who was attending the store at the time. Checked it, and then of course it appeared that this was actually correct and I did win a million bucks. We went back home. We called OLG, which is the Ontario Lottery Gaming Corporation. They give you specific instructions of what to do next. They told us to go back to a store that we felt comfortable at, and that we scan the ticket there. The machine shut down. Somebody calls from the OLG to verify that there's somebody with a ticket. They speak to the attendant, and then, of course, they want to speak to me. We verify the ticket. There's a waiting period in which they get back to you in order to come in for an interview to verify that you're actually the rightful owner of the ticket. Everything checks out. Of course, they're doing their due diligence to make sure there's transparency in the process for the correct winner.

Timothy Schultz:

When did you first realize that this was really real, that this was legitimate, really happening? You were skeptical at first.

Alton:

I think after the verification process of the terminal actually shutting down, that's when I knew that this was real. Before, I was always thinking that there's a glitch in the system and so forth, but when there was that actual screen and then the OLG calling the attendant, that's when I knew it was really the win.

Timothy Schultz:

The machine shut down and it called OLG on your behalf? It just did that automatically?

Alton:

Yes. I would say approximately 65 seconds later, a phone call comes in and then they speak to the individual who's manning the terminal.

Timothy Schultz:

That's impressive.

Alton:

Yes. The process is very quick.

Timothy Schultz:

What did they say?

Alton:

They just wanted to know my name. They wanted to know the information on the ticket. That took around, I'd say, probably 55 seconds to a minute. Very quick process.

Timothy Schultz:

There's probably a barcode or something on the ticket. There was a period of time that went by before you physically brought the ticket in, if I'm understanding this correctly. Do you sign it or what do you do with this ticket worth a million dollars?

Alton:

That was a process in which they called you at the store. Approximately two weeks later, I think they called me arranging a time for me to come in to claim the prize and to bring the ticket. That took place probably five weeks after, because they were backlogged from the COVID winners. Four to five weeks went by. I set up an appointment, showed up around 9.30, went in, gave the attendant at the OLG the ticket. They took it away somewhere. I guess they were forensically analyzing the ticket. Then they put you into a waiting room. Of course, the big winners they take to a higher floor where you have VIP treatment, snacks, treats, lounge, and so forth.

Timothy Schultz:

I love the sound of that.

Alton:

They segregate the low winners versus the high winners to a different part of the building.

Timothy Schultz:

So you got to go with the high winners.

Alton:

Yes.

Timothy Schultz:

What is it like with the high winners and the higher floor, the VIP treatment?

Alton:

Just a very nice environment. There's a nice couch, there's a TV, there's snacks, there's drinks, there's beverages of different choices. Just a very relaxed environment. Then you see there's other winners there that have won big money.

Timothy Schultz:

Do people talk? Did you meet any of those people?

Alton:

There was an individual that was in my room that won $100,000 from a scratch win, and then there were other people in other rooms. There were only three or four of us, very small cohort of winners.

Timothy Schultz:

In that environment, does everyone keep to themselves? You knew someone else that won $100,000. Do you guys talk about your experience? Is everybody super excited? What's the environment?

Alton:

The environment is very quiet. You're looking at each other. You're wondering how much money that person won. It's a long process and then you slowly open up to each other, "How much did you win? How did you win it? Where was it?" It's very relaxed, but at the same time, nerve-wracking process because you're wondering what the next steps are going to be.

Timothy Schultz:

Because you haven't actually been awarded the money yet.

Alton:

Correct.

Timothy Schultz:

Eventually, someone comes out and calls your name, I assume, and takes you somewhere. What happens? Does confetti come down and red carpet?

Alton:

No. What happens is an individual from the OLG, and I suspect that it's probably a senior official, they take you into a room. In the room, they basically go through, they process, and they tell you that there's cameras in the ceiling recording the interview. They also inform you that there's individuals in other locations that are watching the interview, and they go through questions and so forth. Some of the questions they ask you is your occupation, do you have family members, does a family member work at a OLG terminal? They want to make sure that there's no insider collusion taking place. They ask you your playing pattern, the time, the date, did you buy a quick pick, what type of ticket did you purchase, and so forth. They know everything about you before you actually enter that room. There's a digital footprint that they know about you. That's my intuition of the process.

Timothy Schultz:

It sounds pretty strict, but you can't blame them with that kind of money. Were you feeling nervous when this happened?

Alton:

Not really. I will say that the process is 100% airtight. They want to make sure that the person who won that prize is the actual person who gets it. They're very stringent in the due diligence of awarding the winning prize to the correct person.

Timothy Schultz:

After this is over, is there a waiting period where they say, "You passed this test. You are actually who you say you are." What happens?

Alton:

In my situation, the first part lasted approximately 40 minutes. They send you back to the lounge and then they call you back in. They basically go over "We have some more additional questions that we want to ask you. Can you sign your signature on a paper?" You do it five or six times to match your signature from the original ticket.

Timothy Schultz:

We have viewers and listeners from all over the world, and it's a little different in different countries. Some places, they say sign a ticket. Some places, they say don't. In Canada, you're supposed to sign the ticket. Is that right?

Alton:

Correct, you're supposed to sign the ticket.

Timothy Schultz:

Is it a bearer document? In the United States, for example, in most places, if you don't have the physical ticket, if you bought a physical ticket, it's really difficult to try and redeem it without that ticket. Is that the case?

Alton:

That's correct. For example, if I lost that ticket, I think the OLG could find out who the correct owner was. They could go back to the cameras. They could back to using your phone, your tab that purchased the ticket. There's a process where they could retrieve the winner even though you didn't sign that ticket.

Timothy Schultz:

What did you personally do with this million dollar ticket? For me, I put this ticket that I had in a safety deposit box. I've heard of people putting it in a kitchen cabinet under their mattress. What did you do?

Alton:

I put it in a very safe spot which was located in my basement. It was a nerve-wracking four to five weeks before claiming the prize. There's a million bucks in my basement. What if the house burns down? What if I lose it? What if something happens to it?

Timothy Schultz:

How often were you checking on that ticket?

Alton:

Every day.

Timothy Schultz:

Did you keep it pretty tight to your chest? I assume you didn't go out. Who knew about this? Your wife?

Alton:

Just my wife.

Timothy Schultz:

How did you find it acting in social situations with other people keeping this giant million dollar secret?

Alton:

It was just a normal process for me. The odds are very slim, so I was more excited about that instead of the million dollars. I don't think it changes who you are. It didn't change me in the sense of I'm going to be a different person.

Timothy Schultz:

We spoke briefly on the phone before this interview, and you mentioned that you had what I believe you called controlled euphoria. You had euphoria, but it was controlled. How do you hold two emotions at once, both being excited and calm? What was your reaction? What were you actually feeling in the moment that you won and the days after that?

Alton:

When I scanned the ticket and I won the million dollars, I was still straight face. I didn't really smile. I just said to myself, my inner voice, "I finally did it," because I knew this moment was going to come. Part of the headline for the story was I was practicing for this moment for 32 years. I just knew I was going to do it. After the waiting period for five weeks, I was still the normal person that I was before I won ticket. This didn't change me personally. I know that other winners, it might have changed their demeanor, their personality. For me, it didn't.

Timothy Schultz:

From my experience and from a lot of people I've met, and everybody's different, it magnifies who they are on the inside already. Have you found that to be true for yourself?

Alton:

Yes, I would say that. For example, there's always a question, does money buy you happiness? I don't think it buys you happiness. I think it actually buys you peace of mind. With a million dollars, with $10 million, your dishwasher breaks, you don't really sweat it. Your car breaks down, you don't really sweat it because you have that security of the money that you have. The happiness part it doesn't do it, but the security part it really does.

Timothy Schultz:

That makes complete sense. I completely understand where you're coming from. What did you do with this million dollar win? Are you able to say?

Alton:

I invested the money, of course, took my wife and kids on vacation and just living this normal life. It's not really about the material part of it. It's, once again, that security of having the money in case something does arise in your life, in emergency situations, in health situations, and so forth.

Timothy Schultz:

Where did you go on vacation?

Alton:

We went to Jamaica for one week and then we went to Miami for two weeks.

Timothy Schultz:

How was that? That was a million dollar vacation?

Alton:

It was a normal vacation. Once again, that million dollars doesn't change my personality. It doesn't change my spending habits.

Timothy Schultz:

Are you able to say what type of thing you invested in?

Alton:

Just mutual funds, stocks, bonds. Of course, looking out for my two boys who are young, 18 and 21, looking out for their future, their education, and then having something for their future.

Timothy Schultz:

I think it's amazing that in Canada, the lottery prizes are tax-free. That's not the case in the United States and in a lot of places. The prize you win is the prize that you get.

Alton:

Correct. That's one of the best features of the Canadian lottery system. It's tax-free, but I suspect that they're taking it out from the back end and then presenting it as tax-free.

Timothy Schultz:

What do you mean on the back end?

Alton:

For example, if you see a lottery that's $30 million, I think that they've already taken out a part of that in order to give you that feel of tax-free. Part of the lottery system, of course, goes back into our health care system, into our education system, and so forth.

Timothy Schultz:

How did your wife and how are other people reacting to this win?

Alton:

Timothy Schultz:

When you told her this and she did not believe you but you believed it, were you saying it just in jest or did you have something that made you actually believe this?

Alton:

Timothy Schultz:

Would you say that you were in the flow state? Was it a state that you were just in most of the time? What did this actually feel like?

Alton:

There's a mental state that you could do it. You could just imagine something and it happens. I was visualizing. I was imagining winning the lottery. I didn't know the amount that I was going to win, but I knew it was just going to happen. I knew it was going to happen sometime in the near future. I just couldn't predict the exact time. Of course, there's a feel that you have in your body that something you touch turns to gold. I don't know if you had a similar situation in your win, but I could share a lot of characteristics from your previous winners when they went through that.

Timothy Schultz:

A lot of people that I've met and interviewed have been through that exact same scenario where they have this feeling. Many people have visualized it and imagined it and felt it. That happened to me. I actually told people as well that I was going to win. I believed it because I was inspired by this vivid dream, but you don't have to have a dream about it obviously. You didn't have a dream about it, right?

Alton:

I didn't have a dream about it, but I actually knew that I was going to win the lottery ticket in a small town, in a mom-and-pop store. I knew that. I just had this intuition that it was going to take place in that kind of venue and that kind of environment.

Timothy Schultz:

It just was a thought in the back of your head or a hunch?

Alton:

It was a thought that I had. Yes, of course.

Timothy Schultz:

Did you meditate on this sort of thing, or did this just come to you?

Alton:

I didn't meditate. It just came to me. When I look over my 55 years of life, I've always been in the right place at the right time. I've always been in a situation where things fell into place. Winning this lottery, winning the million dollars was just a natural order of how it was going to unfold for me. It's hard to explain to the average person out there, but there is something behind that thought process that you can actually win it.

Timothy Schultz:

It's so interesting when you get into quantum mechanics and that sort of thing. I don't know if you're into that or what your thoughts are on that, or God. I don't know if you're a spiritual person, but this connection to this other source, what do you think about that?

Alton:

I wouldn't say that I'm religious, but I believe that there is something out there in the universe and things fall in a particular order. I think that I am quite fortunate to be aligned in that kind of environment where usually when I do visualize stuff, it actually takes place. It's just not about winning money. It's about other things that can take place in your life, a successful relationship, having healthy kids, just being a good person in your community.

Timothy Schultz:

You mentioned that you're a lucky person as well throughout your life. When you visualize something and then it happens, are you feeling this as well? What is the process like from visualization to something tangible that's actually happening in your life?

Alton:

I'll give you an example in winning that ticket or buying that ticket. I've bought thousands and thousands of tickets over the years. When I touched that ticket, there was something different about it. There was something magical about that winning ticket. That was looking back after winning it. The sun was shining on that ticket when I walked out of the store. Things were different about it and I could feel it.

Timothy Schultz:

You felt that that was the one, obviously.

Alton:

Looking back, yes, because of the sensation of that moment.

Timothy Schultz:

That is so interesting. The same thing happened to me. The one that I won big on, I felt like that was the one. Many people that have won say the same things. Where do you think that comes from?

Alton:

I think it's out of our control. I think its just something up in the universe, something out there that's looking out for us. It just happens that way.

Timothy Schultz:

Do you think that this win was predestined? You visualized and you felt it. How much do you think it was created or predestined or preordained? What are your thoughts on the fundamental source of this type of thing?

Alton:

I'd say 80% is preordained, but then 20% is you believing that it can actually happen. I've had three years to reflect on this moment. I would say that you still have to believe that you can actually accomplish that. I'm on the record with my family and close friends and my wife. I believe I'm actually going to win again. It's just that feel. It doesn't go away. It calms down, and then of course it starts up again. I believe that I actually will win again.

Timothy Schultz:

Is there a specific game? What do you believe that you're going to win again?

Alton:

I'm not sure, but I believe that it's going to be another lottery win. It's that mindset that I have that this was a nice win, but there's going be a bigger win.

Timothy Schultz:

We hope to have you back in the future.

Alton:

I'm hoping it's a Powerball win too.

Timothy Schultz:

Absolutely. If this is preordained, and the same thing goes for anybody, for my win or anything, if 80% of this is predestined, let's accept that for the sake of this conversation, how is it predestined? What are your thoughts on that?

Alton:

Like I said, I think it's about the way you live your life, your positive thoughts, helping people in your community, giving back. I think things become a catalyst in order for good things to happen to you.

Timothy Schultz:

Yes, being in this positive place. I believe that we're all connected. If you help someone else, you're helping yourself because we're all connected. That sort of mindset.

Alton:

Exactly, and then of course, being at the right place at the right time. I don't miss playing the lottery. I play my lottery tickets every Wednesday and every Friday. I don't miss a day. It could be a storm. It can be a tsunami. I'm still going to play the lottery.

Timothy Schultz:

So you are in it to win it. You've spoken a lot about your belief that you had before this happened. Was there ever a time before you won the million where you had doubt about winning, and if so, how did you navigate that, or you felt like this just wasn't going to happen or anything like that? Did you ever have that sort of thought or no?

Alton:

Never had that doubt. Never had negativity towards winning the lottery. Like I said, I didn't know it was going to happen with the amount, but I knew I was going to win the lottery. It's just a mindset that you have to have in order to put yourself in that situation to win. For your viewers, for your listeners out there, you can win the lottery by putting yourself in that scenario, imagining that big moment, and of course, the positive energy that goes towards that process.

Timothy Schultz:

How much would you say is also in addition to imagining it, feeling it as if you're already experiencing it?

Alton:

The feel is a big thing. I would say it's a huge part of that winning process. That's what happened for me.

Timothy Schultz:

Would you call this manifestation? Some people might.

Alton:

It could be. I'm not really into the science of winning. I'm just more of the down-to-earth kind of situation where this is how I felt, this is what transpired, and it's going to continue. Anybody can win the lottery if you have the proper mindset, being in the right place at the right time, and of course, the visualization of actually doing it. It could be winning a car. It could be winning a house. It could be winning something big in life, getting a surgery, and so forth. As long as you can visualize the success of it, then you can actually accomplish it. It's like Michael Jordan visualizing winning the NBA championship, Tiger Woods winning the Masters. They're always visualizing those things happening before they actually do it.

Timothy Schultz:

It's so interesting when you look at the pro athletes and people that have been highly successful that are really into visualization. Even the science of it is pretty interesting. For anyone watching or listening to this today, if you do choose to play the lottery, of course play responsibly and never spend more than you can afford to lose. Obviously, you're a testament, so am I and many people on the show, that real people do win sometimes.

Alton:

In order to win, you have to play.

Timothy Schultz:

That's true. It just takes one. Just play responsibly if you do. For anyone wanting to get into this field where they're really tapped into this, where they visualize something that actually comes to fruition in their life, what is your best advice?

Alton:

Not to try hard for it. Just let it happen naturally. After winning the lottery, you're always chasing the next big win and you're playing it harder. I actually really had to get out of that mindset where I had to let it naturally happen and just go through the process, just go along with your daily life, and just play the way you used to play. Don't change your habits. Don't spend more than you should. I've always gone back to now just playing my normal twice a week. It's $20 per week and that's it.

Timothy Schultz:

So you don't chase. You attract.

Alton:

Exactly. After the big win, I noticed that I was chasing more instead of attracting, and I've actually controlled myself in that mindset now.

Timothy Schultz:

What do you think is the biggest lesson that you've learned from this lottery win or from this whole experience of winning a million dollars?

Alton:

People always talk about "It's going to change this, it's going to do that." It doesn't change your life if you had your life under control before you win. Once again, it doesn't buy you happiness. It buys you security in case anything happens to your family. If any emergencies arise, you have that money as a tool in order to facilitate you out of any kind of situation. For me, it didn't change me, my personality. It didn't change my mindset. It didn't change the way I interacted with other people and so forth. People look at you differently, but it didn't change me.

Timothy Schultz:

It's really interesting that you say that because the same thing happened to me and to some other people that have been on this show. It doesn't necessarily change the person that wins but the people around them, some people perceive them differently. How did you notice the perception changing?

Alton:

I would say that most people have never met a lottery winner, so that's sort of a unicorn situation. People just want to know "How did you do it?" You're always looked at differently because people are always looking at you and you're wondering what they're thinking, but I think it's more out of amazement that they know somebody who actually won the lottery. I'd never met a lottery winner before I won. It's a very unique moment and a unique situation.

Timothy Schultz:

Now all you have to do is look in the mirror. Welcome to the club. I think it's the best club ever. If someone listening today feels stuck or down on their luck with life or anything, because you seem like a really positive person, what would you tell them?

Alton:

Timothy Schultz:

For anyone that wins a million dollars in the future, because it can happen to anybody, what's your best advice for them?

Alton:

I would just have a timeout period for a couple of months. I would get a good financial advisor and just take life very slow. The money's always going to be there. Just do things very slow. Don't rush into any material wants. Don't rush into that. It's always going to be there, the million bucks. It's just making your life easier.

Timothy Schultz:

Absolutely. For anyone playing the lottery that's playing and hoping to win, you've mentioned your belief in the power of positivity and visualization and getting into this field. What's your best advice to players?

Alton:

You have to be very consistent. You have to play in order to win. Like I said to you, I've been playing over 33 years. I don't miss a day. It's part of my routine. It's like waking up, brushing your teeth, doing your normal things that you do. It's built into my twice a week daily routine.

Timothy Schultz:

That's amazing. If you choose to play, definitely play responsibly, anyone watching or listening. Your story is incredible. I'm so happy for you with this million dollar win. It's amazing. From a scale of one to 10, when you found out that you won, what was the level of euphoria and adrenaline for you?

Alton:

I would say it's 11 out of 10, but I was very calm. I felt very vindicated because I told my wife that I was going to win the lottery. I told friends that I was going to win the lottery. That released this heaviness off my chest that I actually did it.

Timothy Schultz:

People that you said that you were going to win and then you actually did, for a lot of people that'd be a really surreal moment. How did people react to that that you had told?

Alton:

They were just shocked. They couldn't believe that I actually pulled off what I said I was going to do. There's going to be people who doubt you. It just happens. You set that goal, and of course you don't deviate from doing it. That's what really made me win the million bucks.

Timothy Schultz:

That's incredible. Congratulations again. It's such a wonderful, amazing story. Is there anything else that you want to say about your experience, your win, or anything that I didn't ask about or that you want to say, or maybe I don't even know enough to ask about?

Alton:

Like I said to you, I'm going to be on the record, I will be back on your show. I'm hoping that's going to be a American lottery win.

Timothy Schultz:

You're going for the Powerball, it sounds like.

Alton:

I love playing Powerball.

Timothy Schultz:

I definitely wish you good luck. We would love to host you again. I'm very excited about that. Thank you so much for your time today. Your story is really incredible, and it's such a pleasure meeting you.

Alton:

Thank you for the opportunity to be on your show.