$50M Lotto Max jackpot finally won

Jun 27, 2010, 8:54 am (10 comments)

Canada Lotto Max

Massive prize shared by two winning tickets

Next draw worth $30 million, as non-winning Maxmillions prizes roll into next pot

MONCTON, N.B. — Mortgage-burning parties, new vehicles and lavish vacations are likely in the offing for holders of two winning tickets in Friday's $50 million Lotto Max jackpot.

Lottery corporations in Atlantic and Western Canada say two winning tickets worth $25 million each were sold in Happy Valley Goose Bay, N.L., and somewhere in Saskatchewan.

"We're exceedingly excited to have one of the winners be in Atlantic Canada," said Courtney Pringle, a spokeswoman with the Atlantic Lottery Corp., in an interview Saturday from Moncton, N.B.

"This is not the first time Happy Valley Goose Bay has seen a major win. In fact, less than a week ago we handed out another major prize there," she said.

In a draw on June 18, Bob Janes, a resident of the community of roughly 7,600 people, won $500,000 in a Lotto Maxmillions draw. Friday's Lotto Max jackpot swelled to $50 million and sent ticket buyers scurrying to kiosks across the country after two previous draws failed to produce any winning tickets.

It wasn't all bad news for Manitoba. Two tickets purchased in the province were Maxmillions winners, according to the Western Canada Lottery Corp.'s website.

As of Saturday afternoon, the holder of the winning ticket hadn't yet come forward in Newfoundland, Pringle said.

Kevin van Egdom, a spokesman with the Western Canada Lottery Corp. in Stettler, Alta., confirmed the winning ticket in Saskatchewan was not sold in either Regina or Saskatoon. He said their policy is not to reveal where the winning ticket was sold until the ticket holder comes forward to one of their offices. The earliest that might happen would be on Monday during regular business hours, van Egdom said.

When Canada's latest multimillionaire does surface in Newfoundland, the lottery corporation will conduct an investigation to confirm the winnings are rightfully his or hers, said Pringle. While some lottery winners religiously check their numbers the day after a jackpot draw, others can take their time, Pringle said.

"We have players come forward with winning tickets that they've had the ticket in their possession for months and had no idea they were the winner," she said. "Sometimes people know right away and decide to sit on it for a month or so to make some decisions on what they're going to do with the money."

In her experience, lottery winners often want to pay off their mortgages, buy new vehicles — often a truck — and go on expensive vacations. But some have even used their new wealth to fund their dream wedding, Pringle said.

After meeting several newly minted millionaires during her career, Pringle said it's often when lottery winners are handed a small bank cheque for their winnings the reality of their financial windfall hits them.

"They're holding it in their hands and they say, 'It's starting to sink in now, it's starting to feel real.' It takes some time for people."

Over 40 winning tickets from across Canada were also drawn on Friday in the Lotto Maxmillions, with ticket holders sharing in prizes of up to $1 million each, said Jennifer Dalton, another spokeswoman with the lottery agency in Atlantic Canada.

Twenty Maxmillions draws were not won on Friday, so will be rolled into the next Lotto Max draw on July 2. That jackpot will be worth an estimated $30 million.

Winnipeg Free Press

Comments

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

I'd like to see a National Lotto Game for the US modeled after Lotto Max.

Fraserm

I agree with that rdgrnr, there were over 50 tickets sold that won at least 100,000.

 

2 tickets won 25 million dollars each.

21 tickets won 1 million dollars.

10 tickets won 500,000 dollars.

6 tickets won 333,333 dollars

6 tickets won 289,000 dollars.

4 tickets won 250,000 dollars.

5 tickets won 100,000 dollars (from encore).

ThatScaryChick's avatarThatScaryChick

Quote: Originally posted by Fraserm on Jun 27, 2010

I agree with that rdgrnr, there were over 50 tickets sold that won at least 100,000.

 

2 tickets won 25 million dollars each.

21 tickets won 1 million dollars.

10 tickets won 500,000 dollars.

6 tickets won 333,333 dollars

6 tickets won 289,000 dollars.

4 tickets won 250,000 dollars.

5 tickets won 100,000 dollars (from encore).

That game seems to create a lot of big winners. I also wish we had something like that here.

sully16's avatarsully16

Quote: Originally posted by ThatScaryChick on Jun 27, 2010

That game seems to create a lot of big winners. I also wish we had something like that here.

I Agree! yep.

pcurtis's avatarpcurtis

Quote: Originally posted by sully16 on Jun 27, 2010

I Agree! yep.

I Agree! Me to!

megamillionaire's avatarmegamillionaire

Wink Canadians don't loose half their winnings to the government, since they don't have to pay taxes on their lottery winnings. Unhappy

bobby623's avatarbobby623

Quote: Originally posted by rdgrnr on Jun 27, 2010

I'd like to see a National Lotto Game for the US modeled after Lotto Max.

The MM and PB controllers said when cross selling of the games was authorized that a third Jackpot game is in the making. They didn't give any details about the new game. Just a few hints that it would be different.

Given the games offered now, one has to wonder what would a third game entail.

IMHO, I don't think any game requiring players to pick 5 from 65, 5 from 70 or any variation would sell.
I can't imagine playing such a game.  I don't think there would be a big demand. Sixty seems to be the top cutoff number. 

Canada and Australia have gone to Pick 7 games.

Personally, I think the next jackpot game will be a Pick 7 game, and, like Canada, it will cost more to play - $2.

The idea that lotteries should pay more big prizes seems to be reason for Lotto Max.

I have relatives in Canada and they say they love Lotto Max. They didn't like the ticket increase, but they keep on buying them.

In Australia, one can play in syndicates having 10 or more players. It's like playing in a pool only the financials are handled by the lottery, not
a member of the pool.

I don't think we will ever have a truly 'national' game like the Pick 6/49 + bonus number in Canada.
We can't have those rich folks in New York buying up all the good numbers!  LOL

Lets face it, lottery player pockets are only so deep. They just spread it around, at least I do.
I can't imagine any state lottery participating in games run by national politicians. It sounds like a good idea, but not very practical.

HaveABall's avatarHaveABall

Congratulations to all the winners! 

I wonder if any of these biggest winners are U.S.A. citizens who live in the U.S.A. ... "Admins" and fellow LotteryPost.com members, please post when you read something.

Disney

starchild_45's avatarstarchild_45

Quote: Originally posted by HaveABall on Jun 28, 2010

Congratulations to all the winners! 

I wonder if any of these biggest winners are U.S.A. citizens who live in the U.S.A. ... "Admins" and fellow LotteryPost.com members, please post when you read something.

Disney

USA citizen here and i won 5 canadian. i can wait until my ticket runs out before i go get the money.

grave

Quote: Originally posted by ThatScaryChick on Jun 27, 2010

That game seems to create a lot of big winners. I also wish we had something like that here.

I Agree!

End of comments
Subscribe to this news story