Two British Columbians win $1M from Lotto Max

Two best friends from Duncan and Abbotsford won $1 million from Lotto Max on Oct.18.

According to British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC), James Walsh and Douglas Snitchuk bought the winning ticket at Honeymoon Bay Food & General Store on South Shore Road, near Lake Cowichan on Vancouver Island,

The two have known each other since they were in the eighth grade and have played Lotto 6/49 together for years

“I was in the Nanaimo Walmart at Woodgrove Mall, and checked the machine and counted the zeros,” said Walsh. “I counted the zeros and thought ‘no way!’ and must have checked five times before I gave it to the clerk, I almost fainted!”

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Walsh first told the news to his wife and then to Snitchuk, who couldn’t believe it at first.

The friends are planning to travel and go to sporting events.

So far this year, B.C. lottery players have redeemed more than $156 million from Lotto Max, BCLC says.