$1M Maxmillion’s prize still unclaimed in Barrie after Dec. 30 draw

A clerk hands a customer their Lotto Max ticket at a gas station. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Doug Ives)

Barrie could soon be home to a brand-new millionaire... if the lucky ticket holder comes forward.

According to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), a winning Maxmillions ticket worth $1 million was sold in Barrie, Ont., for the December 30 lottery draw, but the prize remains unclaimed.

While OLG is able to confirm where the ticket was purchased, officials say the ticket holder must personally come forward with the winning ticket and provide key details to verify ownership before the prize can be paid.

“We need the ticket holder to come forward and give us that information in order to ensure that they are the rightful owner of that ticket,” said Tony Bitonti, director of media relations at OLG. “Because you are not asked for personal identification when you buy the ticket at a retail location, we need to ask a few questions of the ticket holder to ensure they are actually owner of that ticket before we pay the prize. It is part of our standard prize claim process.”

As of now, OLG says it is not aware of anyone having stepped forward to claim the prize. The winner has up to one year from the draw date to come forward and collect the winnings.

Until then, the million-dollar mystery remains, leaving locals wondering if the lucky ticket is tucked away in a wallet, a drawer, or perhaps forgotten altogether.

OLG encourages anyone who purchased a Maxmillions ticket for the December 30 draw in Barrie to check their numbers carefully. One small ticket could be worth a life-changing fortune.

To check your ticket, players can use the OLG App or visit a retailer near you.