Sparkling water craving leads Canadian to $40 million lottery win
What started as a simple thirst for some Bubly sparkling water turned into a $40 million lottery win for Vancouver resident Phuc Duc (Daniel) Chau.
He was on a casual run through Central Park in Burnaby, B.C., when the craving hit.
Chau popped into the 7-Eleven on Imperial Street and Boundary Road nearby for a drink, but he said he also had a gut feeling to purchase a Lotto Max ticket for the May 23 draw.
“Something really pushed me to buy that ticket without any planning,” he said while accepting his cheque at BCLC headquarters on Thursday. “I just felt it.”
BCLC/Facebook
Winner almost forgot about lottery ticket
Chau bought the ticket on May 20 but didn’t check it right away. In fact, he completely forgot about it.
“I’m very forgetful,” he admitted. “I put the tickets in my bag.”
BCLC/Facebook
Days later, while searching for a cough drop at work, he spotted the two Lotto Max tickets he bought. The first one was a bust. But the second?
“I scanned it and literally dropped my phone. I’ve never seen that many zeroes in my life.”
He immediately called BCLC to confirm the surreal moment was real.
Telling his partner took some convincing
BCLC/Facebook
The first person he told was his partner, but convincing them wasn’t easy.
“I [screenshotted] the app showing $40 million and sent it. They were like, ‘Where did you get this from?’” Chau laughed. “It took nearly an hour to convince them it was ours.”
Now, the couple is “walking on cloud nine.”
At BCLC headquarters, Chau said he hadn’t told his parents about the win yet, but planned to do so as soon as possible — unless they’d already seen the live stream announcement.
“I love surprising people,” he said. “But I think they’ll be very happy.”
Supporting his family is at the top of his priority list, along with long-awaited travel plans.
“Europe, Australia, Asia, there are so many places I’ve dreamed of visiting,” he shared. “Now I can make those trips come true.”
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Home, community, and staying grounded
While many might splurge, Chau’s plans are thoughtful.
“Probably a proper place to live — for us and for my parents,” he told reporters.
And he doesn’t want to keep it all to himself.
“This is a gift. I want to use part of it to help others. That’s the most meaningful part.”
He’s now looking to work with a financial planner and says he may pause work, but not his purpose.
“I love the people I work with. Even if I step back, I’ll find a different way to support them.”
Asked to describe how he was feeling, Chau didn’t hesitate.
“It feels like a roller coaster,” he said. “I love roller coasters. It’s emotional, exciting, and overwhelming, but in the best way.”
All forms of gambling, including the lottery, involve risk and outcomes are based on chance. Individuals are strongly advised to gamble responsibly. If you are experiencing any signs of gambling-related issues, you can find resources here.