The search for a year-long $50 million jackpot is officially over says the OLG. Kathryn Jones, a woman from Hamilton who held the winning Lotto Max ticket from November 30 2012, was handed her cheque by OLG President Rod Phillips yesterday, who said the payout is the end of one of the greatest gambling mysteries in Canada.
“OLG is proud to be part of such an extraordinary journey that led us to Kathryn as the rightful winner. It’s an exciting new beginning for Kathryn and her family and a great ending to a year-long mystery.”
Kathryn purchased the ticket at a Shoppers Drug Mart in Cambridge in the fall of 2012. When the Lotto Max draw was held on November 30, her ticket held the winning numbers, but she had reportedly lost the ticket by the time the draw occurred.
The OLG conducted a year-long investigation to find Kathryn, who was unknown to the OLG at the time of the draw. The deadline to claim a jackpot prize is one year after the official draw. With the deadline rapidly approaching, the OLG investigators caught a break, and finally tracked down Kathryn at her home in Hamilton.
The investigation concluded shortly before the holidays. Investigators quickly verified Kathryn’s identity, as well as reviewed her credit card receipts to match the ticket numbers. With the investigation over, the year-long saga finally ended with the presentation of the cheque.
Since learning their fate, Kathryn and her family reflected on what to do with the winnings over the holidays. International travel is expected to be one way the family enjoys the money, as well as donating a significant amount to charities in Hamilton.
Kathryn also thanked the OLG for their persistent investigation to find the rightful winner of the Lotto Max jackpot.
