News & Updates

Canadian Wins Sixth Largest Jackpot in Nation’s History

 

A Langley, B.C., resident bought the winning lottery ticket for the sixth biggest jackpot in Canada’s history. For four straight weeks, no one won the huge jackpot, but the losing streak ended March 14, 2014.

A shop in Langley sold the $50 million ticket for Canada’s Lotto Max jackpot sometime before 6 p.m. The winner has so far yet to claim the money.

Retailers reported selling up to 100,000 Lotto Max tickets per minute until sales ended at the close of the day. The winning ticket had the numbers 3, 4, 5, 7, 31, 33 and 40. The ticket’s bonus number was 49.

Jackpot Chasers

Chris Fairclough, B.C. Lottery Corporation spokesperson, said that jackpots this size usually attract hundreds of thousands of participants, especially people who only play the lottery when it reaches historic proportions. Fairclough’s name for these players is “jackpot chasers.”

British Columbia places a $50 million limit on jackpots, which is why lotteries never reach the sizes seen in the United States’ Mega Millions or Powerball jackpots. Fairclough explained that Canada’s 649 lottery could reach these levels, but so far it has never gotten above $64 million.

BCLC Providing Canada with Gambling Winnings

The BCLC operates Canada’s Lotto Max and Maxmillions jackpots as well as racetracks and casinos in metropolitan Vancouver. The organization was recently in court to defend itself against a lawsuit from a woman who lost $78,000 at two B.C. casinos.

While gambling at Fraser Downs and Cascades casinos, Joyce May Ross gambled away the money on separate occasions in 2007 and 2010. She decided to sue the BCLC as well as the casino operators.

A judge dismissed the lawsuit, saying that awarding Ross her claim would send a message to gamblers that they don’t have to pay money they owe to casinos.