10-06-2025
Lotto Max: Calgary local goes nearly 8 months before realizing his ticket is worth $1M
Ming Zhu of Calgary got the surprise of a lifetime when he finally checked a Lotto Max ticket from the Aug. 9, 2024 draw and realized he was holding on to a $1 million prize. He had completely forgotten about the ticket until April, when he decided to scan it on a whim. By then, nearly eight months had passed, and he had just four months left before the prize would have expired unclaimed.
'I have bought tickets for many years, thinking, 'I bought; I have a chance,'' said Zhu while claiming his prize with the Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC).
Lottery winners in Canada have one year from the draw date printed on the ticket to collect their winnings. After that, prizes can no longer be claimed — making Zhu's timing a very close call.
With the unexpected windfall, he and his wife already have big plans.
'We're going to buy a new home,' said Zhu.
Zhu remembers the moment he went to check his ticket. When he walked into the store in April, he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
'I checked [the ticket] again and again,' he said. 'Then I left the store and told the news to my wife.'
At first, she didn't believe him.
'She didn't believe me, so I used my laptop to show her on the website,' he said.
Once he finally convinced his wife of the major prize he just won, the pair were excited and couldn't wait to spend the money together.
Zhu purchased his winning ticket from Shoppers Drug Mart located at 5628 4 Street NW in Calgary. He won his prize by matching one of the Maxmillions selections from the Aug. 9 Lotto Max draw: 8, 22, 26, 32, 38, 41, and 44.
Maxmillions prizes are additional $1 million draws that are triggered when the Lotto Max main jackpot reaches $50 million or more. Each Maxmillions draw has its own set of winning numbers, giving players even more chances to win big alongside the main jackpot. In Zhu's case, his ticket matched all seven numbers from one of these bonus draws — earning him $1 million.
If you're looking to take a break from gambling, self-exclusion programs can be effective tools. See here for resources that are available across Canada.
