Thursday May 15, 2025 | VICTORIA, BC [Posted at 11 am | Updated at 12:11 pm]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
In Vancouver today, one extremely lucky British Columbian came forward to claim their $80-million Lotto Max prize.
The Surrey resident who at 11:30 am received the symbolic cheque at the BC Lottery Corporation Vancouver office had matched all seven numbers on the May 9 draw, winning the largest jackpot ever won in B.C.
The winner is Justin Simporios of Surrey. He had purchased the ticket at a Walmart store in Surrey.
About the winner:
Simporios is ultimately most excited to share his windfall with his family. “I want to help my family and my wife’s family. I’ll pay off my sister’s medical school debt and help my mom retire early – just giving my family a head start in life,” he said.
Giving back to the community in Surrey and B.C. is also a key priority. “I’ve struggled before and needed help. Even if I can give an ounce of happiness, I want to help where we can. This feels like a dream,” said Simporios in a televised announcement today.
As an avid LA Lakers fan, Justin mentioned he would like to see LeBron James play before the player retires. He also plans to visit his family in the Philippines for a family reunion. “My wife and kid have never visited!”
He wants to help the local community where he lives, where he says he “sees how people struggle”.
Biggest win in Canada:
The windfall is also the biggest prize ever won by a single individual in Canada, according to the B.C. Lottery Corporation. The maximum Lotto Max jackpot was raised to $80 million last year, but previous winners have had to split their multi-millions with another player.
Last Friday’s record-setting winner remains anonymous for now, but will be revealing their identity Thursday morning at a BCLC press conference.
The odds of winning a Lotto Max jackpot are 1 in 33,294,800.
Lottery dynamics:
These significant wins — and the drive for people to contribute millions each year to essentially pay for health and education and other key services in this province through the purchase of lottery tickets — is based on significant income inequity in this society.
When people have very little income to begin with they buy lottery tickets in the hope of changing their fortunes. Nowadays, many households can barely make ends meet. Small supports through lottery wins rather than big windfalls would make more sense in terms of helping more people.
If people have moderate income they often buy lottery tickets hoping at least for incremental gain in their financial security.
People who are financially secure may not be so eager to buy lottery tickets except for frivolity, as the odds of winning are not great.
Life-changing:
Winning a massive amount like $80 million changes a person’s life forever.
It impacts family, friends, and career track — and not necessarily in positive ways.
It brings a whole new level of financial management and daily responsibility. Sometimes big-dollar winners end up wasting the lucky fortune while others distribute it to friends and family or invest in their communities.
Financial management is a skill set that can take time. Some large lottery winners will want to be careful to whom they entrust the management of their new wealth.
See profiles of various BC Lottery winners in recent years.
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