Ryan Stacey was surprised this month to learn that he was a $1-million winner — on a lottery ticket purchased nine months ago.
The Red Deer man, who plays LOTTO MAX every week, said he doesn’t check his tickets often and had several to check in mid-December.
“I went to the store with a bunch of tickets. I’d scan a few at a time on the ticket checker and give the winning ones to the clerk to cash,” said Stacey in a press release from Western Canada Lottery Corporation on Friday.
“When I scanned this ticket and saw all the zeros, I stopped what I was doing and gave it to the clerk.”
At first, Stacey thought he won $100,000.
“I thought, ‘That’s a nice win,’” he laughed.
“Then I took a second look and said, “Wait a minute – that’s a million dollars!”
Stacey, who won a $1-million MAXMILLIONS prize on the LOTTO MAX draw on March 4, plans to use his winnings to pay bills.
“To be completely financially free, that’s a dream come true!”
Stacey’s winning ticket was a free play he won and cashed it in at the Northhill Express 24 convenience store, 7141 50th Ave.