After 23 years in Montreal and a road trip across the country, a new Calgary family experienced the surprise of a lifetime when they won $1,360,265.70 in the July 16, 2024 Lightning Lotto draw. The win couldn’t have come at a better time, as it will help them kick start their new life in Alberta.
“We stopped at every gas station on the way to Calgary to buy a lottery ticket,” said Ge Ann Bareng, while claiming her prize with the Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC).
Bareng is the first millionaire Lightning Lotto winner and holds the record for the largest prize in Western Canada since the game’s launch on April 30, 2024.
“We were trying to change our lives with a move to Alberta, and here we are with a life-changing win after not even two full weeks in Calgary,” she said.
“If we’d won in Winnipeg, we might have stayed there,” added Bareng’s husband, laughing.
Bareng purchased the winning ticket during a shopping trip with her kids, unaware of the life-changing outcome that was waiting for them.
“We had just moved to Calgary from Montreal and were looking to furnish a new apartment, now we will be looking at buying a house!” she said.
Lightning Lotto is an instant-pick game, meaning players receive five automatically selected numbers for a shot at the jackpot, which grows until it’s won. With Lightning Lotto, players know instantly in-store if they’ve won.
“When we looked at the numbers, we couldn’t believe how many zeroes we saw,” said Bareng. “It took us three days to figure it out!”
The family is most excited about the fresh start this win provides. With their prize, they plan to prioritize long-term goals, focusing on their children’s education and securing their future.
“We now have the funds to send them to university in the future. I knew I made the right choice to move to Calgary, but now we can reset our lives here,” said Bareng.
“We’re going to pay off our debt, buy a house and a car and put the rest away for our kids’ education.”
Bareng won by matching all five numbers in the July 16, 2024 Lightning Lotto draw: 7, 26, 28, 43, 45.
Lightning Lotto is a new game available for players in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the territories. Unlike traditional lottery games where winning numbers are drawn after ticket sales, Lighting Lotto numbers are drawn at the start of each day, and every ticket sold attempts to match the pre-drawn numbers.
For $3, players receive three sets of five randomly selected numbers from 1 to 49. Matching 2 to 5 numbers can win prizes, with 5 of 5 landing the progressive jackpot, which starts at $125,000 and grows until it’s claimed. The odds of winning any prize are 1 in 4.47, with some of the best odds nationwide for a top prize. Lightning Lotto tickets are available exclusively by quick pick at Lotto Spot retailers across the region.
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.