Russetta Burnstick from Maskwacis, Alta., turned her last bit of spare change into a $100,000 win with Lightning Lotto and Extra in the June 24, 2024 draw. Her lucky $3 purchase left her at a loss for words as it turned a routine day into a life-changing moment.
“I scanned it in the store and then had the cashier check it for me,” said Burnstick to the Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC) while claiming her prize. “I was just completely speechless; I spent the last of my spare change on that purchase.”
With her lucky win, Burnstick has big plans for the prize money. First on her list is furthering her education. But before that, she’s looking forward to taking a trip and enjoying fun adventures with her family.
“I would like to do some upgrading programs to further my employment,” she said. “I also want to take a trip with my kids, do some home renos and maybe even upgrade my vehicle!”
When asked how this moment feels, Burnstick had nothing but positive emotions to share. This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime moment.
“It feels overwhelming and really good at the same time,” she said.
Lightning Lotto, which launched on April 30, 2024, offers players a quick chance to win big. Unlike traditional lotteries where numbers are drawn after tickets are sold, Lightning Lotto numbers are drawn at the start of each day, and each ticket tries to match those pre-drawn numbers.
For $2, players get a quick pick Lightning Lotto ticket with three sets of randomly selected numbers from 1 to 49. Matching 2 to 5 numbers wins a minimum prize of $2, while hitting all five wins the progressive jackpot, which starts at $250,000 and keeps growing until it’s won. The odds of winning any prize are 1 in 4.47, with some of the best odds nationwide for the top prize.
With Lightning Lotto, players will know instantly, in-store, if their ticket is a winner. They can even validate/claim prizes up to $1,000 right then and there.
Burnstick bought her winning ticket at Pigeon Lake Petro-Canada, located at 2 Village Drive in Westerose, Alta. For $1, she added Extra to her ticket, which helped her win by matching the last six digits of the Extra draw (1056077).
Tools to stop gambling
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.