Quesnel Resident Claims 46 Million Dollar Lottery Jackpot

A resident of Quesnel, British Columbia, has claimed a 46 million dollar jackpot after discovering that his ticket matched the winning entry in the December 20, 2025, Lotto 6/49 Gold Ball draw. Richard Z. learned of a local jackpot win, checked his own ticket at home, and discovered that he held the winning ticket, according to the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC).

Richard completed his prize claim at BCLC's Kamloops office on October 16, 2026. The winning ticket had been purchased in Quesnel, according to the corporation's announcement reported by Abby News.

Richard initially checked the ticket visually before consulting the BCLC website to verify the result.

"The ticket was only visually validated," Richard said.

The online confirmation established that his ticket had won the Gold Ball Jackpot, transforming his initial suspicion into the realization that he had secured the full 46 million dollar prize.

"When it said it was the Gold Ball, that's when the overwhelming feelings set in; knowing that out of everyone in Canada, I had the ticket that won $46 million," Richard added.

After confirming the win, Richard shared the news with his wife, who was the first person he told. The couple reacted emotionally to the unexpected windfall.

"At first, there were tears of joy. It was overwhelming!" he said.

The couple plans to use part of their newfound financial freedom to travel together. Richard is particularly interested in visiting the pyramids, while both hope to enjoy trips without financial stress and take their time deciding on their next steps.

Despite the substantial prize, Richard said the couple does not intend to make sweeping changes to their everyday lives. Their priority is to preserve their current lifestyle and keep things simple.

"It feels great. We want to live the life we live now and still want to keep our lives simple," Richard said.

BCLC reported that lottery players in British Columbia had redeemed more than 135 million dollars in Lotto 6/49 winnings during 2026 as of the announcement. Richard's 46 million dollar prize represents one of the significant individual claims recorded in the province during the year.