Biggest Lottery Winner in Ontario History
The biggest lottery prize in Ontario's history hasn't been claimed yet, even though the lucky ticket was drawn on Thursday.
While it is not unusual for lottery winners to keep away from the limelight for up to a month after their win, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming group was expecting to see the winner of the $41.3 million step forward to claim this massive prize, after it was announced on Thursday that the ticket had been purchased in Niagara Falls.
This Lotto 6/49 prize has drawn so much attention, in particular, because it will be the biggest amount ever paid out to an Ontarian or, if the purchaser is actually a group of people, to Ontarians.
The person to hold the previous title, however, didn't quite do justice to his place of honor as the biggest lottery winner in the province.
In June 2007, Graham Gileneau took home a massive $37 million on a Lotto 6/49 ticket. Gileneau worked at an off-track betting parlor before his win, and was known as a recluse even before then.
After his massive win, "he made his escape plan and nobody ever saw him again," said one friend.
Eventually Gileneau died with almost nothing of his $37 million left in his account, and there wasn't even a funeral for a proper farewell.
Closed for the Weekend
Even if the winner of Wednesday's draw had a change of heart and decided to come forward this weekend, he, she or they would need to wait a little longer, since the lottery corporation's offices are closed until Monday. However, the ticket could be validated at any of the lottery retail stores over the weekend, giving the winner enough time to celebrate.
The chances of winning the Lotto 6/49 are approximately 1 in 13,983,816. Since it launched in 1982, this particular lottery has paid out nearly $10 billion.
