Lotto 6/49: Calgary man puts off claiming $1M Gold Ball prize for 3 months in order to avoid the cold

Yahoo

14-05-2025

Laszlo Kovacs isn't the biggest fan of winter. In fact, the Calgary man avoided claiming his Lotto 6/49 Gold Ball ticket for three months — all because he didn't want to go out in the cold.
'It was very cold,' said Kovacs at the Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC) prize centre. 'I don't like to drive far when it's like that.'
He had purchased the ticket for the Nov. 20, 2024 draw but didn't scan it until December. That's when he discovered he'd won $1 million — a surprise that left him stunned.
'I couldn't believe it,' he said. 'I was jumping up and down inside!'
Even after realizing he'd won big, Kovacs waited until March 2025 to officially claim his prize. He sat on the ticket, waiting for the weather to warm up before making the trip.
'I'm glad I kept the receipt!' he said. 'It helped me remember all the details months later.'
The winning ticket was purchased at Sandstone Pharmacy, located at 4-3525 26 Avenue SE in Calgary. Kovacs won in the Gold Ball Draw with the selection 31765145-01 — a white ball worth $1 million.
Before doing anything else, he plans to celebrate the win at home with his cat, Muci, who might be in for a few extra treats.
'He is already spoiled!' Kovacs said. 'He doesn't need any more toys — but will probably get some!'
While the prize won't be funding anything too flashy, Kovacs says he's excited to use it in a meaningful way.
'I was raised to save my money,' he said. 'I may go on a trip though; I would love to go to Croatia!'
One of his long-time dreams is to attend a soccer game abroad.
'I do cheer for a lot of football [soccer] teams, and I'd like to see one if I can!' he said.
Even now with the warmer weather coming in, the reality of the win hasn't fully set in.
'I still can't wrap my head around it — it definitely makes life easier!' said Kovacs.
Lotto 6/49 offers players the chance to win two multi-million-dollar jackpots on every $3 play. The Classic Draw offers a $5-million jackpot every Wednesday and Saturday. The Gold Ball draw, however, is a new format introduced in September 2022, and guarantees a winner every time.
It starts at $10 million, and includes 30 balls in the draw: 29 white and 1 gold. Each white ball is worth $1 million, whereas the gold ball represents the lucky jackpot prize. This Gold Ball jackpot continues to grow by $2 million each time a white ball is drawn, until it reaches $68 million with no more white balls remaining — which then guarantees a Gold Ball winner.
If you're looking to take a break from gambling, self-exclusion programs can be effective tools. See here for resources that are available across Canada.