RED DEER, Alta. — Dave Johnston is kicking himself for pulling out of a lottery pool that's about to cash in a lucky ticket for $30 million.
The steam-fitting instructor at Red Deer College in central Alberta, Canada, used to play regularly with plumbing teachers he sat with in the school's lunchroom every day.
But he pulled out over a year ago.
"It's hard to stay in," said Johnston, who added he kept putting in his cash but the pool wasn't winning big. He eventually decided it just wasn't going to happen.
"And then it does."
Seven of the plumbers won last week's Lotto 6-49 jackpot. The men, each set to pocket about $4.3 million, are to be officially introduced at a Western Canada Lottery Corp. news conference today.
Johnston said he found the plumbers hugging each other and dancing around soon after they realized they had the winning numbers.
"I walked over and said, 'What did you do? Win a hundred bucks?' "
Johnston said he was happy to learn his co-workers were new millionaires. And he offered them a quick proposal.
"I said, 'Well, if each of you give me a $100,000 then I can retire too.' I thought I'd throw it out there," Johnston said. "I didn't have any bites."
A retired instructor who sometimes put money in the pool when he popped in for coffee also phoned to offer congratulations. But he also gave the group grief for not keeping him in the pool when he wasn't around.
Johnston said he's not upset and his family isn't blaming him, either. "It's just one of those things. If it was meant to be, it would be. That's all."
Well, he should contact the lawyer of that other guy that dropped out 3 years previous and the court just awarded him his cut. That was unreal!
Unbelievable! Some people are just sore losers. He said: "I said, 'Well, if each of you give me a $100,000 then I can retire too.' I thought I'd throw it out there," Johnston said. "I didn't have any bites."
You are entitle to NOTHING! ZERO! ZILTCH! NADA! Why should any of the winners give him anything? You don't pay you don't play!
WOW,, who would have thunked it... Well I guess he thought it would have been better to save a few bucks... LOL... Some people are not meant to have millions .
You know how educators and mentors are always exhorting kids to stay in school? Well, I guess this can be adapted for this guy, and he is a teacher no less. STAY IN THE (LOTTERY) POOL!!! You lottery pool dropout!
I guess this illustrates an important point: Don't alter your lottery buying pattern. If he would have stayed in the pool, he would be some millions richer and retired. But if you are not playing a pool, don't start...too much headache. Also, I am reminded of the many folks who say they only play the lottery when it reaches a certain amount, like $100 million. Well if these people would have done that, they would not have won. And how many people pick their own numbers but exercise this scheme only to discover that their numbers rolled when the jackpot was MERELY $25 million?!!! I think one quarter of $25 million is more than many people have in investment/bank accounts today!!! I play regardless of the jackpot amount as it is irrelevant UNTIL your numbers hit.
The guy pulled out over a year ago, no court would honor any claim. You have to stick with it. Oh well, it wasn't meant to be.
if it is meant to happen it will happen if not it won't. it was not for him. life,must keep trying when it your time it will happen
Can't hurt to ask...The worst they can say is no. He wasn't claiming anything...he just told the world he pulled out a year ago. Oh We'll...It now becomes a story that sticks with you to the end....
LOL, I know he's losing sleep over it. You have to stick with it.
Stay in those lottery pools if you're in one.
Otherwise play solo
Good advice Rightprice, I just sent a text to a few of my group players about this article..
Whoa, bummer.
He may have been what was holding them back. I believe the old saying that "scared money never wins" and cheapskates are always scared about risking their money. I wouldn't want to be in a pool unless everyone in it was upbeat and positive.
He thought he was never gonna win.
And of course he was right.
That's how it works.
tough toenails for him. this will teach you to either never join one of those pools or if you do stay in it no matter what. everyone should take turns buying him an item out of the vending machine one time each just for laughs if they still are working there, which they shouldn't be.
CONCUR
"SCARED MONEY DON'T MAKE MONEY!"
"GOT TO BE IN IT TO WIN IT!"