Hamilton grandma thought her instant lotto top prize win was a ‘gag gift’

A Stoney Creek grandmother feels completely blessed" after hitting the jackpot on a gifted instant lottery ticket.

Denise Upton says life will be a little more comfortable" now that she's won the Instant Crossword Deluxe $250,000 top prize.

Upton, a resident of Stoney Creek, was given a ticket purchased at the King George Road Esso in Brantford.

The grandmother says she scratched part of the crossword - her favourite" - before setting it aside. Weeks later she finished the ticket and saw how many words she had uncovered. I thought it was a gag gift until I scanned it using the OLG app," Upton said.

After paying some bills, helping her daughter with education and some friends, Upton plans to travel ... when it's safe.

But for now, Upton said her win still feels unimaginable."

I feel completely blessed that I've been given this opportunity that most people don't get."

OLG says the odds of winning any prize on an Instant Crossword Deluxe is 1 in 3.45.

Jeremy Kemeny is a Hamilton-based web editor at The Spectator. Reach him via email: jkemeny@thespec.com