Staff Report
BRANT NEWS

A Brantford man has used his knowledge of NFL football to win the third-highest OLG Pro Picks Pools prize ever claimed.

Gino Difelice, 43, discovered he had won more than $725,000 after sitting at his computer until 5:30 a.m. on Oct. 1, when the prize amount was posted on OLG.ca, according to a media release issued by OLG.

“I was a nervous wreck up until my final pick won,” Difelice said. “I couldn’t believe how much I won.”

Each week, Difelice waged $5 on his favourite football teams and sometimes took risks by picking underdogs. On his winning weekend, he wrote down his team picks and kept them a secret until the final NFL game ended.

“My family is overjoyed,” Difelice said as he claimed his winnings at the OLG Toronto prize centre. “I’m still in shock. I have never won this much in my life.”

Difelice purchased his winning ticket at an Esso gas station on King George Road.

A construction site inspector with the City of Brantford, Difelice said he plans to use his winnings to fund the education of his two children and take a family trip.

The highest OLG Pro Picks Pools prize ever claimed was worth nearly $815,000, which was won in December last year.