Ultimately, in accordance with the ILC and BCLC Lottery Rules and Regulations, BCLC advised the purchasers that the trust was an ineligible prize claimant and therefore, they would need to submit the prize claim as individuals.
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“This has never happened before in the history of B.C.”, he said.
BCLC is a provincial Crown Corporation offering socially responsible gaming entertainment while generating income to benefit all British Columbians.
Friedrich Mayrhofer claimed the prize on behalf of his family, wife Annand and son Eric, putting an end to the rumours that had swirled around the prize.
If the challenge to remain anonymous were successful, it could have set a precedent for future winners and removed an important marketing and publicity tool for lotteries, showing the faces and stories of ordinary folk who became instant millionaires. Players of lotteries agree to have their identities made public if they win, although exceptions could be made in certain circumstances, BCLC has said. It does receive requests for anonymity and reviews them on a case-by-case basis, but exceptions are rare.
The winning ticket was a “quick pick” purchased at the Shoppers Drug Mart at 601-22259 48 Ave.
“We are a quiet family”, said Mayrhofer, a 67-year-old retired steel fabricator.
“Our plans are to renovate our home, buy some new furniture and maybe take a sunny vacation”, he stated.
He said he’s been playing the lottery for 30 years and called the win “a dream come true”.
The winnings will be shared with their children, a son and two daughters.
Now we are able to answer the $50 million question.
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The Lotto Max jackpot has been building ever since 6th November, and is now back up to CA$60 million following a fifth successive rollover last Friday.
