Millionnaire Moment in Montérégie: Shopper Who Expected $10 Wins $1M Lotto 6/49
Gaston Synnott became a millionnaire after the March 7, 2025 (ET) Lotto 6/49 draw when a ticket he believed paid $10 was validated at a Saint-Lambert retailer. He discovered the $1 million prize two days after the draw when the clerk told him the amount. The win sent him home to tell his partner and plan how he will spoil his children.
Millionnaire Declared at Saint-Lambert Retailer
Two days after the March 7, 2025 (ET) Lotto 6/49 drawing, Gaston Synnott went to a Saint-Lambert retailer to have his ticket checked and was surprised by the clerk’s reaction. Synnott asked if he had won a small amount that morning; the clerk answered that the ticket was a $1 million prize and that he was a winner. The winning ticket was purchased at the Maxi on Victoria Avenue in Saint-Lambert, and the retailer will receive a $10, 000 commission equal to 1% of the prize.
Synnott spent minutes in his car after learning the news, thinking through how to tell his spouse. At home, his odd behaviour prompted a question from his partner; he answered, “Your husband has been a millionnaire since this morning, ” and the couple began making plans for the windfall. Synnott has said he will use the money to treat himself and his children.
Immediate Reactions from Winners and Loto-Québec
“Don’t tell me I only won ten bucks this morning?” was Synnott’s initial question when the clerk reacted. “It’s $1 million, sir. You are a winner, ” was the reply that changed his life. Gaston Synnott, Lotto 6/49 winner and resident of Montérégie, shared that he has been “excited like a child” since the discovery as conveyed to Loto-Québec.
In the same period, Sylvain Brière of Longueuil won $25, 000 per year for life in the Grande Vie draw on March 9, 2025 (ET). Sylvain Brière, Grande Vie winner and Longueuil resident, checked his ticket on an app as he prepared breakfast and said, “Breakfast was put aside. I ate cold toast!” He told family and friends the news, though some were skeptical because of his reputation as a practical joker.
Loto-Québec has also provided perspective on the wider picture: in 2025 the organization has distributed more than $1. 7 billion in prizes and created 105 millionnaires across Quebec.
What Happens Next for the Winners and Community
Synnott and Brière are now moving through the standard claim and verification steps with Loto-Québec and will receive their prizes following the organization’s procedures. The Saint-Lambert retailer will collect the established commission for selling the winning ticket. Community reaction is expected to follow as family and friends respond and practical arrangements for the prizes are finalized.
Authorities and the winners have not announced detailed timelines for public celebrations or financial plans beyond immediate statements; Loto-Québec will process claims in line with its rules. The sudden change in both men’s circumstances highlights a string of significant wins in the region this month and the ripple effects on households and local retailers as a result of large lottery payouts.
As the winners complete required formalities with Loto-Québec in the coming days, the Montérégie community will watch how these unexpected fortunes are spent and shared — a reminder that a routine ticket check can produce a life-altering outcome and that being a millionnaire can begin with a single validation at a corner store.
