Retired Public Servant Wins $20m Lotto Max Jackpot

It was supposed to be just a routine shopping trip for Ernie Anuik from Yorkton in Saskatchewan, Canada. Then, he discovered a $20 million Lotto Max jackpot win in the draw held on February 15.

Ernie was out with his son and went to a Shoppers Drug Mart to check his Lotto Max ticket. He already knew that someone from Saskatchewan had won the top prize but never imagined that the lucky player might be himself.

He’s always said that “everyone has an equal chance of winning,” so why shouldn’t he have been the jackpot winner?

The lucky player couldn’t believe it when discovering he was in fact a multi-millionaire. His Lotto Max ticket had successfully matched 19-26-28-36-40-42 and 48 to land the $20 million top prize.

Lots of zeroes

Recalling the moment that he found out he’d won, Mr Anuik said: “I just saw lots of zeros. There were a couple of people behind us, and I don't think they realized what was happening."

Disbelief began to set in, so he used the store’s ticket checker three times. The same result came up on each occasion. He then called for his son to help him check the Lotto Max ticket yet again. Still wanting confirmation, he asked the store clerk to validate his win.

Pulling their leg

The retired public servant then contacted his three other sons. “I asked them if they were sitting down, to sit down, and then of course they thought I was just pulling their leg,” said the Lotto Max winner.

He’s been playing lottery games for a long time. 11 years ago, he had a $6,800 win playing Western Max. He never imagined that one day he’d win a $20 million Lotto Max jackpot.

Speaking about his win, the Lotto Max jackpot winner said: “There's no such thing as a sure thing and nothing lasts forever. If you can accept those two things you can get through a lot of stuff in life." An appointment with a financial advisor has been made to discuss how best to use his winnings.

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