A ticket holder has come forward to claim a C$40 million Lotto Max jackpot just hours before it was scheduled to expire. The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) confirmed on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, that a ticket was validated through a lottery terminal. The agency had been searching for the winner for nearly one year.
The winning ticket was purchased for the October 28, 2025, draw at a retailer in Grey County, Ontario. Because the region is a tourist destination—encompassing areas such as The Blue Mountains, Owen Sound, Meaford, and Hanover—officials suggested the buyer might have been a visitor who forgot to check the ticket after returning home. OLG representatives noted that the ticket had not been checked via the OLG app or at a retail store prior to the claim.
OLG has not publicly identified the individual or group that presented the ticket. Tony Bitonti, OLG’s director of media relations, stated that the agency is currently conducting a review process to confirm the claimant is the rightful owner. If ownership is verified, the corporation plans to hold a winner celebration. The winning numbers for the October 2025 draw were 06, 14, 17, 19, 26, 43, 45, with Bonus Number 27.
Had the prize not been claimed by the Wednesday midnight deadline, the C$40 million would have been returned to the OLG prize pool for use in future games. Approximately one percent of lottery prizes go unclaimed each year in Ontario, though OLG officials described a jackpot of this size reaching its expiry date as exceptionally rare. A player who loses or forgets a winning ticket loses the legal right to the funds after 12 months for terminal-printed tickets. The most significant precedent for such a loss occurred regarding a June 28, 2022, draw, where a C$70 million prize sold in Scarborough, Ontario, went unclaimed despite 2,700 inquiries.
The verification process is now underway, and the claimant will receive the funds only after OLG completes its review. If confirmed, the winner's story will be shared as part of the OLG’s standard disclosure process. For other players, this event follows a recent C$90 million Lotto Max jackpot won by an Alberta resident earlier in October 2026, which was the largest prize in Canadian history following a cap increase from C$80 million to C$90 million in April.