Quick Answer: Canadian lottery winners have claimed over $2 billion in jackpots exceeding $50 million since 2009. The biggest? Justin Simporios of Surrey, BC took home $80 million in May 2025 — the largest individual lottery prize in Canadian history. Below, we rank every major winner by jackpot size. Get 2 free Lotto 6/49 tickets when you sign up at XO Lotto.
Canada produces more multimillionaires per capita through lottery wins than almost any country on Earth. And unlike the US, Canadian lottery winnings are completely tax-free.
Yet finding a complete list of Canadian lottery winners in one place? Nearly impossible. Provincial lottery corporations only publish their own winners. News sites cover individual stories then move on.
This guide changes that. We’ve researched every major jackpot win across all provinces and both national games — Lotto Max and Lotto 6/49 — to create the definitive ranking of Canada’s biggest lottery winners. For a deep dive into Canada’s flagship game, see our complete Lotto Max Canada guide.
All-Time Biggest Canadian Lottery Winners
Here’s what you came for: the complete ranking of Canada’s largest lottery jackpot wins, verified and updated as of December 2025.
Top 15 Canadian Lottery Winners by Jackpot Size
| Rank | Amount | Winner | Game | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $80,000,000 | Justin Simporios | Lotto Max | May 2025 | Surrey, BC |
| 2 | $80,000,000 | Split (2 tickets) | Lotto Max | Sept 2024 | Ontario + Quebec |
| 3 | $75,000,000 | David Hatt | Lotto Max | Oct 2025 | Kingston, ON |
| 4 | $70,000,000 | Adlin Lewis | Lotto Max | Jan 2020 | Brampton, ON |
| 5 | $70,000,000 | Dale McEwen | Lotto Max | 2022 | Regina, SK |
| 6 | $70,000,000 | Marcel J. Lussier | Lotto Max | June 2022 | Quebec |
| 7 | $68,000,000 | Anonymous | Lotto 6/49 | Sept 2023 | Toronto, ON |
| 8 | $65,000,000 | Mohit Sharma | Lotto Max | June 2025 | Etobicoke, ON |
| 9 | $65,000,000 | Mark Hanley | Lotto Max | March 2025 | Newmarket, ON |
| 10 | $65,000,000 | Tai Trinh | Lotto Max | Oct 2019 | Calgary, AB |
| 11 | $64,000,000 | Zhe Wang | Lotto 6/49 | Oct 2015 | Mississauga, ON |
| 12 | $63,400,000 | Split (4 tickets) | Lotto 6/49 | April 2013 | BC + Alberta |
| 13 | $60,000,000 | Online winner | Lotto 6/49 | May 2025 | Ontario |
| 14 | $60,000,000 | Single ticket | Lotto Max | Sept 2015 | Brampton, ON |
| 15 | $55,000,000 | 20 Rona employees | Lotto Max | July 2015 | Quebec |
Every single person on this list became a multimillionaire from a ticket that cost $5 or less. And remember — in Canada, lottery winnings are 100% tax-free. That $80 million? The winner kept $80 million.
Record-Breaking Lotto Max Winners in Canada
Lotto Max dominates the list of Canadian lottery winners for good reason. The game’s maximum jackpot increased to $80 million in September 2024, creating opportunities for the largest prizes in Canadian history.
How Lotto Max Creates Massive Jackpots
The game starts at $10 million and grows with each draw until someone wins. Once it hits $50 million, supplemental “MaxMillions” prizes of $1 million each get added. The June 2021 draw reached a total prize pool of $140 million — $70 million main jackpot plus 70 MaxMillions prizes.
That draw produced 32 millionaires in a single night.
The $80 Million Club
Only three tickets have ever won $80 million in Canada:
Justin Simporios — $80 Million (May 2025)
The Surrey, BC father bought his ticket at Walmart during a grocery run for hamburger buns. He paid $12 for a Quick Pick and checked his numbers that night using the BCLC app.
“I saw that someone won $80 million in Surrey,” Simporios recalled. “So I made a joke right away, ‘Hey baby, we’re millionaires.'” His wife told him to keep it down — their daughter was sleeping.
Then he checked the numbers. They matched. He quit his logistics job via email two hours before his winner announcement press conference.
September 2024 Split — $40 Million Each
The first-ever $80 million Lotto Max jackpot was split between two tickets sold in Ontario and Quebec. Jean Lamontagne of Montreal collected his $40 million share after discovering the win at work. The 60-year-old retired earlier than planned.
Lotto Max Winners by Province
Ontario and Quebec produce the most Lotto Max winners simply because they have the largest populations. But Western Canada punches above its weight.
| Province | Notable Winners | Largest Win |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | Adlin Lewis, David Hatt, Mohit Sharma, Mark Hanley | $75M (Hatt, 2025) |
| Quebec | Jean Lamontagne, Marcel Lussier, 20 Rona employees | $70M (Lussier, 2022) |
| British Columbia | Justin Simporios | $80M (2025) — Canadian record |
| Alberta | Tai Trinh, Bon Truong | $65M (Trinh, 2019) |
| Saskatchewan | Dale McEwen | $70M (2022) |
| Manitoba | Multiple $1M MaxMillions winners | Various |
| Atlantic Canada | Various | $60M+ |
Want to play Lotto Max from anywhere in Canada without visiting a retailer? XO Lotto offers Lotto Max tickets online with Interac deposits and CAD withdrawals.
Canadian Lottery Winners: Lotto 6/49 Record Jackpots
While Lotto Max grabs headlines for sheer size, Lotto 6/49 holds its own records — including the largest jackpot ever guaranteed to be won.
The $68 Million Guaranteed Winner
In September 2023, Lotto 6/49’s Gold Ball system created something unprecedented: a jackpot that had to be won. The game’s new format (introduced in 2022) uses a “ball draw” mechanic where the jackpot grows until only the gold ball remains.
On September 27, 2023, that gold ball was finally drawn. A Toronto-area ticket holder won $68 million — the largest Lotto 6/49 prize in Canadian history.
Top Lotto 6/49 Canadian Lottery Winners
| Amount | Winner | Date | Location | Story |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $68M | Anonymous | Sept 2023 | Toronto area | Gold Ball guaranteed winner |
| $64M | Zhe Wang | Oct 2015 | Mississauga, ON | Kept win private, celebrated quietly with family |
| $63.4M | Split 4 ways | April 2013 | BC + Alberta | 3 BC tickets, 1 Alberta ticket |
| $60M | Online purchaser | May 2025 | Ontario | Bought ticket online |
| $54.3M | 17 oil workers | Oct 2005 | Camrose, AB | Largest Canadian jackpot at the time |
The 2005 Oil Workers Win deserves special mention. Seventeen colleagues at an oil and gas plant in Camrose, Alberta pooled their money for tickets. When they won $54.3 million, each took home roughly $3.1 million. It remained Canada’s largest jackpot for years.
Why Lotto 6/49 Wins Can Be Even More Special
Here’s something most people don’t realize: Lotto 6/49 offers guaranteed million-dollar winners on every single draw through its Classic Draw and Gold Ball system. Every draw produces at least one $1 million winner — plus the chance at the growing jackpot.
► Sign up at XO Lotto and get 2 free Lotto 6/49 tickets — your chance to join the list of Canadian lottery winners starts with zero risk.
Canadian Lottery Winners by Province
Where do Canada’s biggest lottery winners come from? Here’s the breakdown by region.
Ontario Lottery Winners
Ontario produces more Canadian lottery winners than any other province, which makes sense — it’s home to nearly 40% of Canada’s population.
Notable Ontario Winners:
- David Hatt — $75 million Lotto Max (Kingston, Oct 2025)
- Mohit Sharma — $65 million Lotto Max (Etobicoke, June 2025)
- Mark Hanley — $65 million Lotto Max (Newmarket, March 2025)
- Adlin Lewis — $70 million Lotto Max (Brampton, Jan 2020)
- Zhe Wang — $64 million Lotto 6/49 (Mississauga, Oct 2015)
Ontario residents can play both national lotteries online through XO Lotto, which accepts players from all Canadian provinces.
British Columbia Lottery Winners
BC now holds the record for Canada’s largest individual lottery win: Justin Simporios’ $80 million Lotto Max jackpot in May 2025.
Notable BC Winners:
- Justin Simporios — $80 million (Surrey, 2025)
- Multiple $1M+ winners — Various MaxMillions and Gold Ball prizes
BC players can access Lotto Max, Lotto 6/49, and international lotteries through XO Lotto.
Quebec Lottery Winners
Quebec has produced several of Canada’s most heartwarming lottery stories, including workplace groups who shared massive jackpots.
Notable Quebec Winners:
- Jean Lamontagne — $40 million (split from $80M, Montreal, Sept 2024)
- Marcel J. Lussier — $70 million (Montérégie, June 2022)
- 20 Rona Employees — $55 million shared (July 2015)
Western Canada Lottery Winners (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba)
The Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC) oversees lottery sales in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and the territories. Despite smaller populations, Western Canadians have won some of the largest jackpots in history.
Notable Western Winners:
- Dale McEwen — $70 million (Regina, SK, 2022)
- Tai Trinh — $65 million (Calgary, AB, 2019)
- Bon Truong — $39.5 million (Edmonton, AB, 2019)
- 17 Oil Workers — $54.3 million shared (Camrose, AB, 2005)
Atlantic Canada Lottery Winners
Atlantic Lottery serves New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. While the region has smaller populations, it’s produced numerous millionaires through both national games and regional lotteries.
What Canadian Lottery Winners Do With Their Money
Beyond the numbers, the stories of Canadian lottery winners reveal what matters most to people when money is no longer an obstacle. For some truly wild spending ideas, check out our look at outrageous things you could buy with a Lotto Max jackpot.
Common First Purchases
Based on winner interviews and lottery corporation announcements:
- Pay off debt — Mortgages, car loans, student debt
- Help family — Justin Simporios immediately planned to pay off his sister’s medical school debt
- Quit or reduce work — Most winners retire or go part-time within weeks
- Travel — Mohit Sharma’s first plan was riding famous trains worldwide
- Real estate — New homes, vacation properties, helping family buy homes
Winners Who Stayed Humble
Not every Canadian lottery winner goes on a spending spree. Marcel Lussier, the Quebec retiree who won $70 million, still lives in the same Montérégie home he’d occupied for 50 years. He focused on humanitarian causes rather than personal luxuries.
Zhe Wang, who won $64 million in 2015, avoided media attention entirely and quietly celebrated with her family. Many Canadian lottery winners choose similar privacy.
The Tax-Free Advantage
Here’s what makes Canadian lottery winners especially fortunate: every dollar is theirs to keep. Unlike American lottery winners who might lose 40%+ to federal and state taxes, Canadians pay nothing.
An $80 million win in Canada = $80 million in your bank account.
An $80 million win in the US = roughly $45-50 million after taxes.
That’s why playing Canadian lotteries offers better effective value than chasing larger US jackpots like Mega Millions.
How to Become a Canadian Lottery Winner
Every winner on this list did one thing: they bought a ticket. That’s it. No secret strategy. No lucky store (though some certainly have winning streaks). Just participation.
Step 1: Choose Your Game
Lotto Max — Bigger jackpots ($10M-$80M), plus MaxMillions when jackpot exceeds $50M. Draws Tuesday and Friday.
Lotto 6/49 — Fixed $5M Classic Draw plus growing Gold Ball jackpot (up to $68M). Guaranteed $1M winner every draw. Draws Wednesday and Saturday.
Not interested in lotteries? XO Lotto also offers online scratch cards with instant wins and no waiting for draw results.
Step 2: Get Your Tickets
XO Lotto lets you play from anywhere in Canada with Interac deposits. No retailer visit needed. Create your free account in under two minutes.
Step 3: Keep Your Ticket Safe
Every year, millions in prizes go unclaimed because people lose tickets or forget to check. If playing online through XO Lotto, your tickets are stored digitally and you’re notified automatically if you win.
► Ready to start? Get 2 free Lotto 6/49 tickets at XO Lotto — your chance to join the list of Canadian lottery winners starts with zero risk.
Canadian Lottery Winners: The Odds Reality
Honesty about the numbers matters. Canadian lottery winners beat extremely long odds.
| Game | Jackpot Odds | Any Prize Odds | Max Jackpot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lotto Max | 1 in 33,294,800 | 1 in 7 | $80 million |
| Lotto 6/49 Classic | 1 in 13,983,816 | 1 in 6.6 | $5 million |
| Lotto 6/49 Gold Ball | Improves each draw (guaranteed within 30) | — | $68 million+ |
The Gold Ball mechanic on Lotto 6/49 is particularly interesting. Unlike Lotto Max where the jackpot could theoretically roll indefinitely, Lotto 6/49’s Gold Ball is guaranteed to hit within 30 draws. That’s why the $68 million jackpot in September 2023 was a certainty — someone had to win.
The Reality Check
Most people will never become Canadian lottery winners. The odds are designed that way — it’s how jackpots grow so large.
But someone wins. Every single draw produces winners. And the only guaranteed way to not win is to not play at all.
If you enjoy lottery games as entertainment (not as an investment strategy), the occasional ticket is a small price for the dream. Just play within your budget and remember: it’s entertainment first. Have questions? Check our FAQ or visit XO Lotto’s responsible gaming page for support tools.
FAQ: Canadian Lottery Winners
Who won $80 million in Lotto Max?
Justin Simporios of Surrey, BC won $80 million in the May 9, 2025 Lotto Max draw. He’s the largest individual Canadian lottery winner in history. Previously, the September 2024 $80 million jackpot was split between two tickets in Ontario and Quebec ($40 million each).
What is the biggest lottery jackpot ever won in Canada?
The biggest lottery jackpot in Canadian history is $80 million, achieved twice through Lotto Max. Justin Simporios won the full amount in May 2025. The September 2024 draw also hit $80 million but was split between two winners. For Lotto 6/49, the record is $68 million won in September 2023.
Can lottery winners remain anonymous in Canada?
It depends on the province and lottery corporation. Some Canadian lottery winners can remain anonymous, while others are required to participate in publicity. Quebec and Atlantic Canada generally allow more anonymity. Ontario typically requires winners to be publicly identified but offers some exceptions. XO Lotto respects winner privacy in accordance with applicable laws.
Which Canadian lottery has the best odds of winning?
Lotto 6/49 has better jackpot odds (1 in 13.98 million) compared to Lotto Max (1 in 33.29 million). However, Lotto Max offers larger maximum jackpots ($80M vs $68M). For the best balance, Lotto 6/49’s Gold Ball system guarantees a jackpot winner within 30 draws. Get 2 free Lotto 6/49 tickets here.
Do Canadian lottery winners pay taxes?
No. Canadian lottery winnings are completely tax-free. This includes all federal and provincial taxes. An $80 million jackpot means $80 million in your account. This makes Canadian lotteries more valuable on an after-tax basis than American lotteries, where winners may lose 40%+ to taxes.
How do I claim lottery winnings in Canada?
Online purchases through XO Lotto credit smaller wins automatically; larger jackpot wins are handled through their customer support team.
Has anyone won Lotto Max with a free play ticket?
Yes. Adlin Lewis, who won $70 million in January 2020, used a free play ticket he’d won from a previous draw. His story proves that even “bonus” tickets can create Canadian lottery winners.
What’s the largest Lotto 6/49 jackpot ever won?
The largest Lotto 6/49 jackpot was $68 million, won on September 27, 2023, by a Toronto-area ticket holder. This was a guaranteed win due to the Gold Ball draw system, where the jackpot must be won once only the gold ball remains.
Join the Next Generation of Canadian Lottery Winners
The list of Canadian lottery winners grows with every draw. Twice a week for Lotto Max. Twice a week for Lotto 6/49. That’s four chances every week for someone to join the ranks of Canada’s newest millionaires.
The 2025 winners profiled above all have one thing in common: they bought a ticket. Justin Simporios grabbed his during a grocery run. Mohit Sharma played as a weekly pandemic routine. Mark Hanley had been buying tickets for 30 years.
You can play Lotto Max and Lotto 6/49 from anywhere in Canada through XO Lotto. No retailer visit needed. Interac deposits. Automatic win notifications. CAD withdrawals.
► Sign up now and get 2 free Lotto 6/49 tickets — your name could be on the next list of Canadian lottery winners.
Related Guides
- Lotto Max Canada: Complete Guide to Playing
- Lotto Max Winner Toronto: 7 Biggest GTA Jackpots
- Lotto Max Jackpot: Outrageous Things You Could Buy
Play responsibly. 19+ only. Lottery games involve risk and outcomes are based on chance. Visit Responsible Gaming for support tools.