Canadian lottery winner thrilled by free plays before noticing much bigger prize

A Canadian lottery winner is getting ready to do some major renovations after he learned he won a life-changing prize during a trip to the store.

David W. of Merritt, B.C., was on a shopping run when he decided to check his lottery tickets for the July 1, 2026, Lotto 6/49 draw.

At first, he was thrilled when he won some free plays, but he would soon realize a bigger prize was waiting in his tickets to the tune of $1 million.

“When I first checked, I saw zeroes, but what really caught my eye was the two free plays I won,” said David.

“Then I realized I had won $1 million!”

David bought and validated his ticket at the Walmart on Crawford Avenue in Merritt, located in the Nicola Valley.

The South-Central Interior resident revealed that his wife passed away last year, which changed how he views things.

And while David has no plans to celebrate, he added that he wants to complete renovations on his home.

The Merrit resident shared that he first told the good news to his son.

“He said the f-word!”

David also told his neighbour about his windfall.

“He said, ‘Get out of here,’ and said the f-word. I told them they were supposed to congratulate me, not swear at me!”

B.C. residents have been lucky in the jackpot lately, with several life-changing wins.

David S. of Victoria, B.C., won the top prize of $2 million from a Diamond ticket and recently claimed his winnings from BCLC.

The Vancouver Island resident spotted a diamond on the Scratch & Win ticket and decided to purchase it on a whim.

He added that he doesn’t have specific plans for his $2-million prize, but that he plans on celebrating by treating his mom to a nice dinner.

Another Canadian lottery winner is ready to spread the life-changing jackpot around.

Pastora R. of North Vancouver, B.C., won a $500,000 Extra prize on the Lotto 6/49 draw held on April 18, 2026.

The Metro Vancouver resident already has plans to celebrate with her friends and wants to do something fun to commemorate the jackpot.

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, check out these resources.