Top 5 Biggest Lottery Wins in Canadian History

In Canada, there were almost 4.47 million CAD in lottery sales in 2024. Lotto Max and Lotto 6/49 are the two most popular lottery games in Canada, and they are both the major games responsible for bigger wins in the country.

Both games offer at least $50 or $55 million Canadian as the minimum; the prize money can go up to $80 million as well. In fact, a 2022 report by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation revealed that 1 in 3 Canadian adults buy at least one lottery ticket per month.

Here, anyone who is 18 years or older can purchase and try their luck on the lottery. But the amount spent to buy lottery tickets is much higher than what players actually win.

Only a handful of Canadians have beaten the odds. Only some players are the lucky ones who have actually won the largest jackpots in the nation’s history.

Here are the top 5 biggest lottery wins ever recorded in Canada, where they happened, and how they made headlines.

Top 5 Biggest Lottery Wins in Canadian History

Winnings	Winner(s)	Location	Game
$80 Million	Justin Simporios	Surrey, British Columbia	Lotto Max
$68 Million	Noah Patricio	Toronto	Lotto 6/49 (Gold Ball)
$60 Million	5 GTA Construction Workers: Trang Pham, Suong Tran, Phong Phan, Thuc Le, Zou Hsieh	Greater Toronto Area	Lotto Max
$60 Million	12 Co-workers from Canadian Black Book: Dennis Cartier, Brad Rome, Allison Scarangella Goodwin, Andre Dias, Andrew Breininger, Anna Calcaterra, Claudio Santos, Darlene Wright, Joshua Bailey, Karen Penny, Kathleen Ward, Lawrence Shred	Markham, Ontario	Lotto Max
$25 Million	Charles Coffey	Toronto	Lotto Max

1. Justin Simporios – $80 Million (2025)

• Location: Surrey, British Columbia
• Game: Lotto Max
• Date Won: May 9, 2025

In May 2025, Justin Simporios from Surrey, B.C., made history by winning $80 million – the biggest jackpot ever awarded to a single person in Canada.

The win came from a Lotto Max draw, and the B.C. Lottery Corporation confirmed it as both the largest individual win in the province and in Canadian lottery history.

Simporios, who worked in logistics, discovered the win late at night while trying not to wake his daughter. He verified the ticket with a flashlight and broke into tears once he realized all the numbers matched.

He resigned from his job just hours before the official announcement and shared that his immediate plans included buying a dream home, helping his mother retire, and paying off his sister’s medical school debt.

2. $25 Million – Charles Coffey (Toronto, January 31, 2025)

• Location: Toronto
• Game: Lotto Max
• Date Won: January 31, 2025

At 81, Charles Coffey became one of Canada’s biggest lottery winners after claiming a $25 million Lotto Max jackpot from the January 31, 2025 draw.

A respected retired banking executive and Officer of the Order of Canada, Coffey bought the winning ticket during a routine stop at a local gas station. At first, he thought he’d won $25,000, but a second look – with his glasses – revealed the full amount.

Coffey, who grew up as the seventh of nine children in a small New Brunswick town, said he felt overwhelmed and grateful.

He plans to use the winnings to support causes he’s long advocated for, including Indigenous communities, women entrepreneurs, and childhood development.

“This win gives me the opportunity to sustainably support the causes I have championed for decades,” he said.

3. $68 Million – Noah Patricio (Toronto, December 2023)

• Location: Toronto
• Game: Lotto Max
• Date Won: December 2023

Noah Patricio became the first-ever winner of the Lotto 6/49 Gold Ball jackpot, taking home a staggering $68 million. Originally from abroad, Patricio moved to Canada with just a suitcase and was at work when he discovered his life-changing win.

He saw the news that a Toronto ticket had won and decided to check his own — the ticket was in his pocket at the time. At first, he thought he had won $68,000 and called his sister, who quickly corrected him: “That’s 68 million!”

Patricio later validated his ticket and claimed his prize through the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG). The ticket was purchased at Hasty Market on Church Street in Toronto.

Despite the windfall, he plans to keep working and use the money to support his family and fulfill a few dreams — including a trip to Italy and season tickets to the Toronto Raptors.

4. $60 Million – Group of GTA Construction Workers (January 2025)

• Location: Greater Toronto Area
• Game: Lotto Max
• Date Won: January 2025

Five coworkers from a construction company in the Greater Toronto Area won a massive $60 million Lotto Max jackpot in January 2025. The group includes Trang Pham, Suong Tran, Phong Phan, Thuc Le, and Zou Hsieh.

Trang, the group leader, bought the ticket from a Giant Tiger store in Etobicoke just before Lunar New Year. The very next day, she saw on the news that the winning ticket was sold nearby and decided to check.

To her shock, their numbers matched exactly. She used the OLG app to double-check, saw the $60 million win on the screen, and sent a screenshot to her coworkers.

Each member received $12 million. They were all stunned and emotional after hearing the news, some even cried or couldn’t eat or sleep for days.

Everyone has different plans for their share. Trang wants to buy a home and give back to her parents. Phan is thinking about starting a business and taking time off to travel.

Hsieh is retiring immediately and wants to see the Northern Lights. Le plans to buy a house for his mother and get a new car. Tran says she’ll take her time and support causes that matter to her.

5. $60 Million – 12 Co-workers from Markham, Ontario (October 2015)

• Location: Ontario
• Game: Lotto Max
• Date Won: October 2015

In October 2015, a group of 12 co-workers from Canadian Black Book, a company based in Markham, Ontario, shared a $60 million Lotto Max jackpot.

The group was led by Dennis Cartier, who managed the team’s regular lottery group play. He discovered the win while stopping at a gas station on a Saturday afternoon.

At first, he thought it might be a mistake. But after checking again online and seeing all the numbers match, he rushed home, signed the ticket, and stuck it on the fridge.

Dennis kept the win a secret for a few days and returned to the office on Monday – wearing sandals and a T-shirt instead of his usual business suit. He called a meeting and surprised everyone with the news. The team went wild, cheering, laughing, and even dancing on the tables.

Each person received $5 million. Surprisingly, none of the winners immediately quit their jobs. The group included people from Toronto, Brampton, Bradford, Pickering, Richmond Hill, and Newmarket.

The winning ticket was bought at a Petro-Canada gas station on Kennedy Road in Brampton.

Lotto Max – The most won game

Across all the top winnings, we observed that most of them came from the Lotto Max game. Whether it’s Canada’s biggest-ever single-person jackpot of $80 million or multiple group wins of $60 million – Lotto Max consistently stands out as the game with the highest number of big wins.

Here are some key observations:

• 4 out of the top 5 wins were from Lotto Max.
• Lotto Max jackpots usually start at $50 million and can go up to $80 million.
• It’s a popular choice for group plays – like coworkers and construction teams pooling tickets together for a bigger shot at winning.
• Lotto Max winners often make headlines, gaining significant media attention.

If someone in Canada dreams of hitting a massive lottery jackpot, Lotto Max seems to be the top choice.

Group Lottery Wins – Why They’re So Common

Many of Canada’s biggest lottery wins were not by one person but by a group of people — like coworkers or friends — who played together. This has become very common, especially with Lotto Max.

Here’s why:

• More Tickets, More Chances: When people play in a group, they can buy more tickets without spending a lot. This gives them a better chance of winning.
• Workplace Fun: At many offices or job sites, playing the lottery together is a fun tradition. It keeps the team excited when jackpots are high.
• Big Jackpots Bring Teams Together: When Lotto Max hits $60 or $80 million, more people get together to try their luck as a group.
• Easy to Share: In Canada, lottery companies allow group claims. Everyone’s name can be listed, and the prize is split evenly.

But there can be some problems too. For example, if someone forgets to add a name or skips payment, it can lead to arguments. That’s why some groups keep simple records, even if it’s just a message or note.

Still, winning as a group is a dream many people share — and that’s why group lottery plays are so popular.

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