London Woman’s Lottery Win Turns Heads
A long-time lottery player from London, Ontario, is smiling bigger this week after scoring a $250,000 top prize on a brand-new scratch ticket game. Marianne (Mary) Spence, who works at a law office and has been playing Ontario Lottery and Gaming games for around four decades, couldn’t believe her luck when her ticket paid off big.
A Lucky Ticket on a First Try
Spence decided to try the INSTANT RED HOT 10X game — a fresh release she hadn’t played before — after spotting it at a Market Lottery shop on King Street. Although she’s no stranger to lottery scratch tickets, this was her first time trying this particular game. When she uncovered the massive win, she said she began shaking and needed a moment to fully process what had just happened.
Sharing the Big News With Family
After confirming her prize, Spence went home and shared the exciting news with her family. At first, they thought she’d said she’d won $25,000, which made the reveal even more surprising and fun for everyone. Now that the reality of her win has sunk in, plans are already underway for how she’ll use some of her prize money.
Plans for the Prize Include Practical Goals
Rather than going on extravagant splurges, Spence says her family has practical goals in mind. Her daughter is preparing to get her driver’s license, and a “nice new car” is on the wishlist. Additionally, Spence is considering retirement, a possibility that is now much more real and exciting thanks to her lottery fortune.
A Win That Still Feels Unreal
Reflecting on her good fortune, Spence described the feeling simply as “amazing,” and said she can’t stop smiling. For someone who has enjoyed playing lottery games for many years — and even won $20,000 on a different scratch ticket earlier in 2025 — this represents her biggest prize yet and a life-changing moment.