Canadian man finally nets huge lottery win after 43 years of playing

A Canadian man who has been playing the lottery long game is now $1 million richer.

Wilfred Kwasny of Hinton, Alta., won big in the Aug. 9 Gold Ball draw.

He said he has been playing since Lotto 6/49 first launched in 1982.

“Not every draw, but regularly!” he chuckled. “I save up a few tickets and then check them together.”

This time, Kwasny was stunned by what he saw on the scanner screen as he went through scanning his recent tickets.

“I took them all to the till, and it was the last ticket they checked,” he said. “I looked up and said, ‘Holy smokes, I think I won some money!’”

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“Then I said, ‘Holy smokes, that’s quite a lot of zeroes!’” he laughed. “I think the cashier was even more excited than me!”

Kwasny said his main priority is to live comfortably and share his winnings with family.

“[My family and I] have got a good life,” he smiled. “It feels good to win and have a little extra for the future.”

Kwasny purchased his winning ticket at West End Grocery on Mountain Street in Hinton. He won his prize by matching the selection 35679933-01, a white ball.

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.