A lucky Edmonton resident has won an impressive $35 million Lotto Max jackpot, making it one of the biggest wins in the city’s history.
Ruth Bowes, the lucky winner, shared the massive $70 million prize pool on July 25 with another ticket holder from British Columbia. The announcement was made in a press release on Friday.
Bowes doesn’t buy lottery tickets very often, but she has always dreamed of winning a million dollars. “I’m not a frequent ticket buyer,” Bowes said. “But the idea of winning a million dollars has always fascinated me.”
Bowes believed she had won the entire $70 million jackpot and eagerly shared the exciting news with her husband. However, her excitement turned sour when she realised that the massive prize was to be split between two lucky ticket holders.
With a smile, she recalled, “When I realised it was a split prize, I turned to my husband and said, ‘I’ve got some bad news… I only won $35 million.'”
Bowes and her husband have an upcoming Mediterranean cruise on the agenda, and they’ve decided to enhance their travel experience by upgrading to first class seats for their trip to and from Greece.
Looking ahead, Bowes has outlined plans to use her winnings to refurbish her kitchen and make various improvements to her home.