Lotto Max’s jackpot of CA$70,000,000 was activated by two ticket holders in Western Canada only on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, but one of the winners has already claimed their half. On Thursday, Kamloops local Rhonda Malesku appeared at a British Columbia Lottery Corporation prize centre to take home her half of the jackpot or CA$35 million.
With a maximum jackpot of CA$70,000,000, Lotto Max is Canada’s largest lottery offering and it is safe to say that it is a major hit among players. Over the years, British Columbians have claimed some hefty windfalls from the game. This also includes Christine Lauzon’s win from September 2021, when the Burnaby resident won that exact amount.
Letting Out a Huge Scream of Joy
Ms. Malesku shared with the province upon claiming her prize that she purchased her winning ticket at a Walmart on Hillside Drive, while shopping for beach towels and did not expect to win a jackpot. She discovered her hefty win at home and let out a huge scream of surprise and joy. She and her husband even started shaking out of excitement.
Additionally, she revealed that she has been a consistent lottery player for over 40 years now, and her luck paid off big time. With the money, the winner plans on building herself, her son and her daughter their dream homes. She also wants to help her family members financially and purchase a travel trailer and a truck to do some well-deserved travelling.
Last but not least, she noted that she has always dreamed about being able to design her dream home and set up her family, and now she can do both. She plans on putting a portion of the money towards travelling with her loved ones. After she gets her new trailer, Ms. Malesku has set her sights on exploring the East Coast of the country.
The other winner of the CA$70-million jackpot who is also eligible for a CA$35,000,000 payout is yet to emerge and their identity remains unknown at the time. Currently, the only thing clear is that the ticket holder resides somewhere in Alberta. They have up to 52 weeks from the date printed on the ticket to come out and cash out the mega prize.
Prior Wins in B.C.
According to CEO of BCLC, Pat Davis, Ms. Malesku’s winning is the third largest Lotto Max one in the province for 2023. Just recently, the Victoria couple, Debbie Ramsey and Lahsen Rezrazi also won a jackpot worth CA$35 million from the game. Their windfall dates to June 2023, and despite the amazing reward, they continue to play the nationwide game.
Meanwhile, in the summer of 2022, a West Kelowna resident, Jennifer Cole also won life-changing money from a drawing of Lotto Max. This time she CA$31 million by playing the game online on PlayNow.com and having a subscription for it. Her payout arrived at the July 8, 2022 draw of the game. She also claimed her prize in a Kamloops office.
Source: “Kamloops woman says she screamed and started shaking after winning $35M Lotto Max prize” CBC News, July 27, 2023
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