PICKERING, Ontario – Canadians are rushing to purchase Lotto Max tickets as the jackpot reaches a record $90 million, the largest single lottery prize ever offered in Canada. The jackpot increased after no ticket matched the winning numbers in Tuesday’s $85-million draw.
At Smokers Corner, a convenience store in Pickering, Ontario, customers have been lining up to try their luck. Store owner Issa Kakisa described the demand as unusually high, noting that many customers were spending more than they normally would. According to Kakisa, one customer spent $2,000 on tickets for the draw. The store previously sold a winning ticket worth $1 million two years ago.
Lottery hopefuls have different plans for the potential winnings. Taylor Locke said she would purchase a mansion, adopt more cats, buy homes for her mother, and donate to animal shelters and people experiencing homelessness.
Another customer, Cindy O’Neill, said she would clear her mortgage, purchase a house for her brother, secure her children’s future, and set aside money for charity and travel. She also joked that she would buy her husband a Land Rover.
Margaret Ward said even a smaller prize would make a difference in her life. If she won the full jackpot, she would settle debts and purchase new cars for her husband and children as well as herself.
Retired customer Javad Gezelbash purchased two tickets individually and had already bought three additional tickets as part of a group entry. He said he planned to donate some of his winnings to a hospital and travel around the world.
Meanwhile, Ralph Gomes, who hopes to retire in the future, purchased another ticket after his wife had already bought one, adding to the excitement surrounding the historic draw.
The record jackpot has inspired Canadians to imagine how a major lottery win could transform their lives, from paying off debts and helping relatives to supporting charities and fulfilling long-held dreams.
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