Burnaby Resident Returns From Vacation $25 Million Richer

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Sept. 4, 2012) - Lesley Vickars thought summer vacation was over when she returned from a family trip, but once she checked her LOTTO MAX tickets, she realized the vacation was just beginning.

"I was at the mall exchanging cash before we left on vacation when I bought the tickets," explained Vickars. "I didn't think about them again until we got home. I hadn't even realized that a winning ticket this large had been sold in Burnaby."

The Burnaby resident matched all seven numbers to win $25 million on the August 24 LOTTO MAX draw.

"My husband thought something was wrong when I called him screaming," laughed Vickars. "I was just in disbelief. It still hasn't sunk in."

The winning ticket was purchased at the Metrotown Save-On-Foods in Burnaby.

"We are still deciding on our plans for the prize," smiled Vickars. "I do know that we'll be taking off on another vacation."

Since the launch of LOTTO MAX in September 2009, players in B.C. have won more than $400 million in prizes and eight major jackpots have been won.

The second half of the August 24 $50 million jackpot was claimed by a winner in Ontario.

LOTTO MAX can be played at all lottery retail and Lotto Express locations and online at PlayNow.com, with tickets available until 6:00 p.m. (PT) on draw day (Friday). Winning numbers and group release forms can be found online at bclc.com.

To view photo of the winners, please click the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/LottoMax%2425millionWinners.jpg

BCLC is a provincial Crown corporation offering socially responsible gambling entertainment while generating more than $1 billion in provincial revenue last year that went back into health care, education and community groups across B.C.