Biggest lottery jackpot in Canadian history up for grabs

Loto-Quebec said four million-dollar tickets were bought in Gatineau, Terrebonne, Longueuil, and the Eastern Townships, but so far no one has come forward to claim the winnings.

It's the stuff dreams are made of -- the biggest lottery jackpot in Canadian history is up for grabs Saturday night.

The grand prize in the Lotto 6-49 draw will be an estimated $64-million, and Canadians across the country have been lining up for their tickets.

"I just buy one. I figure either it's a winner or it isn't. One is all it takes," said Jeannette Austin-Odina, an occasional lottery player who lives in Edmonton.

Eddie Lightning, another occasional player who bought a Quick Pick 6-49 ticket at a convenience store in downtown Edmonton on Saturday, wasn't even aware of the size of this week's jackpot until after his purchase.

"Oh my heavens, right on!" Lighting said.

Of course the odds of walking this road to riches are pretty slim, to put it mildly -- estimated at about one-in-14-million.

The lottery's grand prize has rolled over 11 times since a $7-million jackpot was last won Sept. 5 by a ticketholder in Ontario.

The previous Canadian lottery record was $63.4-million for a 6-49 draw in April, 2013.

That pot was split among four ticketholders, with each banking nearly $16-million.

Paul Faulkner, from St. Albert, Alta., said he's usually too busy to buy lottery tickets. But this Saturday, he made the time.

"I thought I'd grab one since it's $64 million," Faulkner said.

Curtis Lewis, meanwhile, who was in downtown Edmonton with his eight-year-old daughter, Cianna, on Saturday decided to buy an extra ticket. He's been playing the same numbers for about 25 years, and thought he'd let her in on the fun.

Both were wearing Blue Jays shirts and feeling a little lucky.

"I usually buy one, but she's so lucky I let her pick some numbers so I bought two," explained Lewis.

On the Lotto Max front -- no one had the winning ticket for Friday night's $43-million jackpot.

The jackpot for next Friday's draw will be $50-million, and there will also be four MaxMillion prizes of $1-million each available.

So what will people do if they win? Many said they'd give a lot away.

Austin-Odina wanted to help the homeless. Lightning said he'd help his family. Lewis said he'd give much of the winnings to his daughter.

But even young Cianna said she'd give the money away. She didn't even want a trip to Disneyland.

There was just one thing she might like to buy for herself.

"A dog," she said.