How a burger craving led to one Canadian's historic $80-million Lotto Max win
A last-minute grocery run for his family netted a Canadian Lotto Max player one of the largest lottery jackpots in the country’s history.
Justin Simporios of Surrey, B.C., won $80 million from the Lotto Max draw held on May 9, 2025. He claimed the jackpot in person from the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) office in Vancouver on Thursday morning.
“It’s just sinking in now, it’s life-changing,” said Simporios, wiping away his tears during the presentation ceremony. “Thank you so much, these are happy tears.”
BCLC
The Metro Vancouver resident explained that he was planning on making burgers for his wife and daughter the day of the draw. He saw that the Lotto Max jackpot was $80 million and decided to take a chance.
He went to the Walmart Supercentre in Central City, where he bought burger buns, cheese, and a $12 Lotto Max pack. Just a few short hours later, Simporio’s life would change.
“It was 10:30 p.m.,” said Simporios of the moment he realized he won. “I saw that someone won $80 million in Surrey. I was joking and told my wife, ‘We’re millionaires!’ and she told me to stop making that joke.
“After, I manually checked each number before scanning (using the BCLC Lotto! App). I cried and shouted, ‘We’re millionaires!’”
The 35-year-old Simporio matched all the winning numbers of 06, 10, 16, 17, 30, 38, 48, and bonus 25.
Not only is the momentous win the first time a B.C. player has scored the $80-million jackpot since the Lotto Max jackpot cap was increased in September 2024, but it is also the largest prize ever won by a single person in Canadian history.
BCLC
Simporio asked ChatGPT what to do when you win the lottery and followed the AI’s advice to sign the ticket, take a photo of it, and hide it. He shared that he put the ticket in a Ziploc bag under his pillow and even brought the ticket in a duffle bag with him when he went to church.
Family and community hold great significance to Simporio, who plans to help his mom retire, support his wife’s family, pay off his sister’s medical school debt, and spend more time with his daughter.
He also said he would love to use his windfall to build a dream home and donate some money to local charities.
“I’ve struggled before and needed help,” Simporio said. “Even if I can give an ounce of happiness, I want to help where we can. This feels like a dream.”
He plans to continue to live in Surrey—”my lucky city”—though he will take a break from playing the lottery.
“Let someone else win,” he said with a laugh.
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.