Kelowna’s Ingo Abresch will have a very merry holiday, after claiming an amazing $31-million jackpot from the Lotto Max draw on September 23, 2025 that he bought on BCLC’s PlayNow.com.
Abresch, who has a PlayNow lotto subscription, was at work when he found out he won.
“I looked at my account and saw a big number in the right corner. I clicked on the ticket, and the song rang,” explained Abresch. “I was dumbfounded, there were lots of zeros!”
Abresch wasn’t the only one feeling dumbfounded. When he found out about the life-changing won, he called up his partner.
“[She] was hugely skeptical about it,” says Abresch. “Even when I phoned her, she had to ask who was calling – she thought it was a scam.”
Calling the win surreal and unbelievable, Abresch says while the $31-million will make retirement easier, he doesn’t plan on changing his lifestyle, adding he will do “a few more trips” and “not worry when dining out”.
So far in 2025, B.C. lottery players have redeemed more than $243 million in winnings playing Lotto Max. Lotto Max is a nationwide lottery game drawn on Tuesdays and Fridays after 7:30 p.m. (PST), with a top prize of $1,000 a day for life. Players can purchase tickets at lottery retailers or at PlayNow.com. Players can check their lottery tickets anytime, anywhere using the BCLC Lotto! App.
BCLC offers socially responsible gambling entertainment while generating income to benefit all British Columbians. Players can visit PlayNow.com to learn how to set time and money limits. For more information on tools and resources to encourage healthy play, visit GameSense.com.
