Hao Ping Chung has a Lotto Max subscription on PlayNow.com, but decided to buy a Lotto 6/49 ticket as he was enticed by the $58-million jackpot. The decision he made on a whim worked out for Chung, as he won the whopping $58-million Gold Ball Jackpot from the March 6, 2024 Lotto 6/49 draw, making him B.C.’s first Gold Ball Jackpot winner.
“I saw a big jackpot and bought a ticket,” recalled Chung.
When describing the moment he found out that he won the largest lottery prize ever awarded from a ticket purchased on PlayNow.com in B.C., Chung said, “I was at home when I found out I won. When I logged on to my PlayNow.com account I saw the balance. It didn’t feel real! I tried to withdraw the funds to see if it was actually there.”
The Richmond resident was excited to call his parents right away. “They were surprised and asked if it was a scam!” Chung is taking some time to decide what’s next, but he plans to learn to play guitar and travel. “Some nice beaches, maybe!”
On how it feels to be a multimillionaire? “It still feels unreal. Go play on PlayNow.com!”
BCLC awarded the $58-million prize today during a celebration in its Vancouver office This is the first Gold Ball Jackpot prize BCLC has awarded since the Lotto 6/49 game enhancement in September 2022, when the Gold Ball Jackpot was first introduced.
So far in 2024, B.C. lottery players have redeemed more than $93 million in winnings from Lotto 6/49. Lotto 6/49 is a nationwide lottery game drawn on Wednesdays and Saturdays after 7:30 p.m. (PST). The Gold Ball Draw is a guaranteed prize draw where players will win either the Guaranteed Prize of $1 million, or the growing Gold Ball Jackpot that starts at $10 million. The Classic Jackpot offers a prize that is always $5 million.