A group of co-workers from the Conception Bay South, N.L. area is sharing the $1-million Atlantic 49 top prize thanks to their office lottery pool.

The big winners, who called themselves Hayward’s Group, consists of brothers Tony and Allan Porter, along with seven others employed at their company: Ed Pike, Colin Harvey, Wayne Pippy, Neil Porter, Kyle Peddle, Jonathan Summers and Dennis Eason.

“I called my brother Allan, and we went and got the ticket validated and came back to the office and started calling the group to tell them we were winners,” Tony Porter said. “Everyone was excited and over the moon. Some people didn’t believe it.”

Only available in Atlantic Canada, Atlantic 49 can be played on its own or as an add-on to any Lotto 6/49 ticket. The draw game offers a top prize of $1 million, as well as a guaranteed prize of $25,649 that is awarded every draw. The group’s ticket also won $10 on TAG and $3 on Lotto 6/49 for a grand total of $1,000,013.

“Allan called me early in the morning, which was a little strange, and said, ‘I’m in the garage with Kyle, I’m going to put you on speaker,’” Summers said. “He said, ‘We won the lotto,’ and I can’t tell you what I told him, I couldn’t believe it.”

While each group member has different plans for their share of the prize, plans include purchasing a new home, saving for a child’s education, purchasing new vehicles and taking vacations.

“It was disbelief at first, it took a while to set in because it’s very hard to believe,” Harvey said.

The winning Atlantic 49 ticket was purchased at Buddy’s Orangestore in Conception Bay South, N.L. The retailer will receive a one per cent seller’s prize.

“It’s hard to explain the excitement. The overall feeling that comes over you is really quite something,” Harvey said. “No matter the amount, it’s almost just like a new start.”

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BACKGROUNDER: Atlantic 49

• Atlantic 49 holds draws every Wednesday and Saturday and has a top prize of $1 million.
• Atlantic 49 can be purchased on its own or as an add-on to a Lotto 6/49 ticket. It is only available in Atlantic Canada.
• For $1, players can select six numbers or choose Insta Pik, where the numbers will be randomly generated. With each Atlantic 49 selection, players also receive one computer generated nine-digit number preceded by an “A” to be entered in the Atlantic 49 Guaranteed Prize Draw worth $25,649.