One of Two Winning Mega Million Tickets Purchased at Gateway Newstand in Atlanta

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Dec. 19, 2013) - Two lucky winners are holding mega million dollar lottery tickets worth a whopping $636 million today.

The tickets were sold for Tuesday's near-record draw -- one of them at North America's premier newsstand chain, Gateway Newstands, in Atlanta. (The other ticket was sold in San Jose, California.)

"We are thrilled that a lucky individual walked into our store and purchased a lottery ticket with us," says Noah Aychental of Gateway Newstands, "Everyone benefits here - the lucky winner, the local economy and the Gateway franchisee."

The Mega Millions jackpot inched toward a U.S. lottery record yesterday as it soared to $636 million amidst a frenzy of ticket purchases.

Gateway Newstands, a Canadian-owned company with more than 500 stores in Canada and the US, is one of the largest sellers of lottery tickets in North America. It has 12 stores in the Atlanta area.

Last night's winners will split the second largest lottery jackpot in history - and take home $318 million each.

"We've seen many big winners at our stores in Canada and the US," said Aychental "We're proud partners with Ontario Lottery Gaming Commission many state lottery corporations across the United States and are fortunate to have prime retail locations in key transit stores, high traffic shopping malls and major office towers."

About Gateway Newstands

Gateway Newstands are specialists; their only business is to serve the daily merchandise needs of premier commercial retail and transit developments. Gateway Newstands has established itself as the leading national tobacco / news store specialist. Established in 1983, Gateway Newstands has over 500 stores throughout North America. Our stores are found in 8 Canadian provinces with dominance in Ontario, and Gateway Newstands is the exclusive newsstand retailer in North America's third largest transit system - the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). Gateway Newstands also has over 100 US locations with concentration in New York and Chicago. Gateway Newstands is a 100% owner/franchise operation with strong head office support.