This weekend’s record-breaking Lotto 6/49 jackpot has many ticket-buyers dreaming big – and others wondering why the B.C. Lottery Corporation is still refusing to pay out a previous $50 million win.
Officials estimate Saturday’s Lotto 6/49 prize will reach $64 million, edging past the previous record prize of $63.4 million that was won in 2013.
That massive jackpot has British Columbians seeing dollar signs, but it’s also reminded some about the Lotto Max ticket that was turned in days before it was set to expire in March.
Seven months later, the identity of the person who turned it in remains a mystery, as does the reason for the long delay in cashing out the prize.
NDP gaming critic David Eby said the public deserves to know what’s going on with the process.
“On the eve of a major jackpot, people buying tickets have a question: Why isn’t BCLC paying this out?” Eby said.
“They really should be clear about the issue that’s holding up this jackpot for so long.”
CTV News has been asking BCLC about the holdup since March. On Friday, the corporation declined once again to provide any real update.
“It’s all about preserving the integrity of our process. If we release details about the process we will jeopardize that integrity,” spokeswoman Angela Koulyras said.
BCLC said there’s no time limit for its ticket verification process, but wouldn’t reveal what the process entails or why it’s taking so long this time.
In April, CTV News learned the person who turned in the ticket was fighting to remain anonymous, despite contractual obligations required of all lottery winners in the province – and was even considering legal action to stay out of the spotlight.
BCLC said it does make exceptions to its rule about naming winners, but they are very rare.
With a report from CTV Vancouver’s Shannon Paterson
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