Ontario’s C$40 million Lotto Max jackpot didn’t slip away. The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) told the BBC a winning ticket holder stepped forward and the ticket was validated through a lottery terminal just hours before it was set to expire.
OLG: Ticket validated, identity not released
OLG did not identify the claimant. The corporation said it has contacted the person to confirm they are the rightful owner. In a statement quoted by the BBC, OLG said: “If the rightful ownership is determined, then OLG will hold a winner celebration and share their story with the media and the public as part of our winner disclosure process.”
The Lotto Max ticket was purchased on 28 October 2025 at a retailer in Grey County, Ontario, and would have expired at midnight Wednesday, according to the BBC’s reporting of OLG’s timeline.
Why the hunt took a year
OLG previously said Grey County — which includes the Blue Mountains and Owen Sound — is a popular tourist area, raising the possibility the buyer forgot to check the ticket after returning home, per the BBC. The BBC also reported that OLG spokesperson Tony Bitonti told CTV News earlier Wednesday that the “sad part” was the ticket had not been checked on the OLG app or at a store.
The winning numbers
OLG listed the winning numbers as 06, 14, 17, 19, 26, 43, 45, with Bonus 27. Before the claim surfaced, the corporation urged players to search clothing pockets, handbags, backpacks, wallets, and vehicle glove compartments.
What would have happened if it expired
According to the BBC’s report on OLG’s rules, the C$40 million would have been retained for future games if the ticket had gone unclaimed.
Unclaimed jackpots aren’t unheard of
On 28 June 2022, a C$70 million Lotto Max prize sold in Scarborough went unclaimed, OLG said at the time, according to the BBC. The BBC also reported that Bitonti said about 1% of prizes each year are not claimed, typically much smaller amounts.
Bigger context
Last week, an Alberta resident won what the BBC described as Canada’s largest-ever lottery jackpot at C$90 million. The winner’s identity had not been made public at the time of the BBC report.
