Unclaimed lottery winnings have surpassed $200,000 as mystery ticketholders hold on to potentially life-changing prizes. The latest case involves a resident or visitor of Toronto who started the new year with the $200,000 windfall from Lucky Lotteries Mega Jackpot draw 1694, held on January 7, 2025. Unfortunately, this lucky winner may still be unaware of their good fortune.
The winning entry was purchased at Priceline Pharmacy Toronto, located at Shop 14, Toronto Town Square. Rachel Jackson, the pharmacy manager, expressed her excitement upon discovering her outlet sold the winning ticket. "I’m over the moon! There were lots of screaming and jumping from me and the staff when we found out," she said. "Our customers are going to be very excited to hear a local player has won such a great prize." Jackson noted this wasn't the first winning ticket sold at her pharmacy—three 1st Prize winning entries have come out of her store, the last being sold just months earlier, in October 2024.
The Lott spokesperson Eliza Wregg also voiced her hope for the mystery winner to check their tickets soon. "Whoever is holding this golden ticket may have no idea they’re starting 2025 with a boosted bank account!" she remarked. Wregg encouraged all who purchased Lucky Lotteries Mega Jackpot tickets from the Priceline Pharmacy to check them immediately. "Just think how exhilarating it would be to find out you’re the winner we’re searching for! Your plans for the rest of the year could change quickly."
Currently, the Lucky Lotteries Mega Jackpot prize has climbed to $4.12 million for draw 1695, and the Lucky Lotteries Super Jackpot stands at $9.47 million for draw 10913. Last financial year, more than 132.8 million winners drew from over $4.4 billion in prize money from The Lott's popular games, including Saturday Lotto and Oz Lotto.
Meanwhile, the story takes another turn with Kevin Allum from Welland, who must wait 30 days before collecting his $10,000 prize from the Instant Crossword Tripler scratch lottery game. Allum, who works at a lottery retailer, encounters additional steps due to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation's (OLG) rules, which state claims of $10,000 or more made by insiders require enhanced review and validation before payment. His ticket was bought at Avondale store at Lincoln Street and Prince Charles Drive.
"Claims of $10,000 or more made by insiders require enhanced review and validation," the OLG explained. This extra precaution allows for a 30-day publication period prior to payment to avoid any additional claims on the winning ticket. Nevertheless, if there are no other claims on Allum’s winning ticket, the prize will be available for him on January 30.
The contrasting situations of these winners highlight the thrill and suspense of waiting for unclaimed lottery prizes to be collected. It emphasizes the importance of checking tickets, especially as retailers and lottery corporates actively promote for winners to come forward. With the sheer numbers of tickets sold and prizes waiting, the opportunity to discover what might be under one’s ticket could lead to much excitement.
For anyone curious about their own luck or winnings, officials recommend checking tickets regularly to capture any surprises lurking beneath the surface. Just as Jackson from Priceline Pharmacy said, the winners could be anywhere, and it might be worth getting those tickets out of the drawer!
With millions up for grabs, it’s clear these unclaimed prizes shouldn’t be overlooked. Whether you're at the supermarket, pharmacy, or gaming station, every ticket carries the hope of hitting it big—a chance worth taking, after all!