A Northern Ontario woman is starting the new year with a significantly larger bank account after a lucky scratch ticket purchase. Gilberte Dumoulin of North Bay, Ontario, has claimed a $50,000 prize from an Instant Bingo game offered by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG).
From Disbelief to Celebration
The winning moment was one of pure surprise for Dumoulin. According to the OLG, the winner described checking the ticket repeatedly to confirm her good fortune. "I checked my ticket 3 times," she is reported to have said, a common reaction among major prize winners who need a moment for the reality to sink in. The win was confirmed on October 23, 2025, as announced by the provincial lottery corporation.
How the Win Unfolded
The prize was won on an Instant Bingo scratch ticket, a popular game format in Ontario. Unlike traditional draw-based lotteries, instant win games provide immediate results. Dumoulin's ticket was purchased in North Bay, adding her name to the long list of winners from communities across the province. To officially claim her windfall, she was presented with a ceremonial promotional cheque for $50,000, a standard practice for larger OLG prizes.
Lottery Wins Across the Province
This win is part of a broader pattern of lottery success stories in Ontario and across Canada in 2025. The news of Dumoulin's prize was released alongside other notable winner announcements, including a GTA assembly line worker who secured a $1 million prize. Furthermore, data has shown that nearly $200 million was won in 2025 through lottery tickets purchased in Alberta alone, highlighting the widespread activity and occasional life-changing outcomes of legal gaming in Canada.
For winners like Gilberte Dumoulin, such a prize can represent a substantial financial boost, offering opportunities for debt repayment, home improvements, investments, or simply greater financial security. The OLG regularly publicizes these wins to demonstrate the tangible payouts from its games to players throughout Ontario.
