A Quebec retiree won half the $80 million Lotto Max jackpot on Sept.17, after purchasing a last-minute ticket online in the Outaouais region.
Bernard Morissette, a senior in his 80s, purchased one of the two winning tickets around 9 p.m. on the night of the draw.
Morissette said he’s been playing Lotto Max for several years and has always chosen the same numbers because they have a special significance to him.
A Loto-Québec employee got in touch with the Quebecer the following day, after he told his wife that they won $40 million. Morisette had to double-check the information on his online account and was later invited to visit the Loto-Québec head office.
“He immediately contacted his three children to tell them he won. They were so skeptical that they had to check it out for themselves on their father’s computer,” reads a press release.
Morisette said he doesn’t know what he wants to do with his newfound fortune, but he said he plans to secure his children’s financial future.
According to Loto-Québec, over $100 million in lottery prizes have been awarded since the beginning of September.
“This is the first time in Canada’s history that an $80,000,000 jackpot has been offered. We’re thrilled that a share of this historic jackpot was won in Quebec,” said Isabelle Jean, executive vice-president and chief operating officer of lottery games at Loto-Québec. “Lotto Max is a favourite among Québec lottery players. Since the game’s launch, they’ve collectively won over $3.7 billion with Lotto Max!”
