Gander Bay couple Set for Life with $675K win

Albert Coates and Wanda McDonald of Gander Bayoften wondered what they would do if they won the lottery.

As the latest winners of Atlantic Lottery's Set for Life, they don't have to wonder any longer.

I didn't believe it until they sent me the picture. Then I started screeching.- WandaMcDonald

Coates scratched the winning ticket while he sat in a hotel room, a ritual often done while he worked away from home.

When he saw the three matching Set for Life symbols, he admits things got a little hazy.

"It was pretty wild ... I couldn't believe it at first," said Coates. "My son was there besides me and I said, 'Here look at this to make sure this is right' ... and he said 'Dad you're a winner' and everything went up in smoke after that."

McDonald said when their son called her with the news, the phone call was confusing at first.

"He called me and said, 'Mom I'm having an asthma attack' and I got scared because he got asthma ... but it was panic because his father had won Set for Life," she said.

"I didn't believe it until they sent me the picture. Then I started screeching."

The couple had played Set for Life for years. It's a game with a grand prize of $1,000 a week for 25 years, with an option of taking a lump sum prize of $675,000.

Coates and McDonald chose the single payment.

Retirement is an option

While the formal cheque presentation was Monday, the couple have already made some big purchases.

"We bought our daughter a Jeep Cherokee and our son a new quad," said McDonald. "We're doing our house right now and we'll just pay off some debt."

When asked about advice for all those wishing for hisluck, Coates offered this.

"I recommend anyone keep buying them," said Coates. "If you don't have a ticket, you don't have a chance."

Before the big win, Coates worked as a heavy equipment operator and saidhe will take some time before deciding if he will return to work. For McDonald, who worked in a retirement home, that decision was an easy one to make.

"I'm done work!" said McDonald. "That's the main thing."