Winning ‘doesn’t seem real,’ says Coldstream lotto winner

Randall McDuff still can't quite believe he won the Guaranteed Prize of $1 million from the March 28 Lotto 6/49 draw.

The Coldstream man bought a ticket from a Vernon 7-Eleven and when he went back to check his numbers, he was in a bit of a state, which caused his wife some concern.

“When I went out to the car, I was checking my breath and she asked me if I was having a heart attack,” McDuff said in a press release. “When I told her that I had won, at first she didn't believe me and I had to tell her a few times… She was very excited for me.” 

McDuff, who claimed the life-changing prize using BCLC’s temporary alternate prize-claim process.

“Winning doesn't seem real, and I have to remind myself that I have won $1 million dollars,” McDuff said.

McDuff has been playing Lotto 6/49 and Lotto Max for more than 20 years and has never travelled outside of Canada. The $1 million win will change his life and, once COVID-19 precautions have eased allowing him to resume normal activities, he may take a trip to Australia. More fishing and golfing are also in the plans.

Once the life-changing realization has really settled in, McDuff says his first priority is to visit family in Manitoba after several years of not being able to.

“My family is older and I would like the opportunity to see them again once I am able to," he said.

To support players in claiming lottery prizes during this time, BCLC has implemented alternate prize-claim processes for winners. 

Lotto 6/49 is a nationwide lottery game drawn on Wednesdays and Saturdays after 7:30 p.m. (PST). Each draw includes a Guaranteed Prize Draw of $1 million. Players can purchase tickets at any lottery retailer or at PlayNow.com. Players can now check their lottery tickets anytime, anywhere on iOS and Android devices using the BCLC Lotto! App.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Kathy Michaels or call 250-718-0428 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.