Sunday January 2, 2022 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
2021 was a record-setting year for lottery players in British Columbia, with more than $891 million in total prizes paid out, including $100.4 million to players who purchased winning tickets on Vancouver Island.
The BC Lottery Corporation (BCLC) sold more than $102 million winning tickets to players at retail locations and online in 2021, which was a record-breaking total amount.
Revenues still to come:
Corporate revenue tallies for 2021 have not been released yet. Revenues were down a bit in 2020 (compared to 2018 and 2019) likely due to the economic uncertainties (perceived or otherwise) of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2018 revenues: 1.39 billion
- 2019 revenues: 1.41 billion (with a growing share of lottery & e-gaming)
- 2020 revenues: 1.35 billion (lottery & e-gaming fare better than casinos during the pandemic)
Biggest prize:
Burnaby’s Christine Lauzon purchased one of these tickets and scored the $70 million Lotto Max jackpot on September 28, 2021, becoming the largest single-prize winner in British Columbia’s history.
Life-changing:
“As 2021 wraps up, we’re celebrating all of our players and so many amazing, life-changing dreams that came true for lottery winners,” said Lynda Cavanaugh, BCLC’s Interim President and CEO.
Community investment:
“It’s thanks to each one of our players that BCLC generates revenue for the Province of B.C., which in turn invests it back into the communities where our players live and work in,” said Cavanaugh.
“It’s a win-win-win, and today we’re celebrating more than 15 million winning tickets sold on Vancouver Island in 2021,” the CEO said in a news release on December 29.
Vancouver Island lottery highlights:
- $100.4 million in prizes paid to players
- 15.7 million winning tickets sold
- 11 grand prize-winning tickets sold, valued at $500,000 or more
- 3 million free-play tickets won
About BCLC:
BCLC offers socially responsible gambling entertainment while generating income to benefit all British Columbians. Remember, play for fun, not to make money. For more information, visit GameSense.com.
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