2 Quebecers win $70M Lotto Max jackpot

Jacques Deschamps of Montérégie is one of two winners of the July 11 Lotto Max draw, each taking home $35 million after matching the jackpot in Quebec.

Two lucky Quebecers are splitting the $70-million Lotto Max jackpot that was drawn on July 11.

One of the winners, Jacques Deschamps from Montreal’s Montérégie region, says he plans to spoil his family and explore the world with his $35-million prize.

He says he would also like to buy a condo in Montreal.

Deschamps adds that he regularly buys Lotto Max tickets, always with the Extra option.

On Saturday morning, he recalls sipping his coffee while checking his tickets using the Loto-Quebec mobile app.

Thinking at first that he had won $3,500, Deschamps says he realized there were too many zeros.

He asked his partner to double-check the ticket, and she realized, “You’ve won 35 million.”

The couple admits they impatiently called their son and woke him up to tell him the good news.

“This is the second time in a few weeks that the Lotto Max jackpot has been won in Quebec,” said Isabelle Jean, executive vice-president and chief operating officer of lotteries at Loto-Quebec. “At the beginning of June, 15 colleagues from Trois-Rivières shared a jackpot of $20,000,000. This time, a jackpot of $70,000,000 was won thanks to two selections sold here.”

Deschamps’ winning ticket was purchased at the Chanteclerc dépanneur at 290 Jacques-Cartier St. in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield.

The retailer will receive a commission of $350,000, equivalent to one per cent of the prize.

Loto-Quebec says it also located the jackpot’s second winner on Wednesday morning.