Person claiming $50M lotto prize wants to remain anonymous

The mysterious individual trying to take home B.C.’s long-unclaimed Lotto Max fortune is fighting for the right to collect the money anonymously.

The $50 million prize was drawn in March 2014, but the ticket holder famously didn’t come forward until days before the one-year claim deadline – potentially missing out on $900,000 in interest.

Seven weeks later, the potential winner’s name is still private and the riches remain in the custody of the B.C. Lottery Corporation.

CTV News has learned the person claiming to be the rightful winner wants to stay out of the spotlight, despite contractual obligations required of all lottery winners in the province.

Under the BCLC’s rules and regulations, all winners must give the corporation the right to publish their name, address, place of residence and a recent photograph.

If they refuse, the BCLC claims it has “no obligation to pay or deliver a prize.”

BCLC spokeswoman Laura Piva-Babcock said the rules are designed to maintain public confidence in the lottery system.

“That’s really about the integrity and the transparency around winners. People buy tickets, they want to know that people do win those prizes,” Piva-Babcock said.

Winners are also usually asked to accept an oversized cheque in a small ceremony, but CTV News has learned the person claiming B.C.’s latest $50 million prize is prepared to take the BCLC to court to maintain anonymity.

Civil lawyer Andi Mackay, who specializes in contract law, said it’s unlikely a judge would rule against the BCLC if the issue ever does go to court.

“If I were a lawyer acting for the winner, I would probably try and keep it out of the court and negotiate with the lottery corporation and try and establish that there are some special circumstances here,” Mackay said.

“I would also say that if somebody wanted to remain anonymous, then they ought to have bought a ticket in a secret lottery.”

The BCLC said it does make exceptions to its rule about naming winners, but they are very rare.

Piva-Babcock said at this point, the corporation is still trying to verify its dealing with the rightful ticket holder.

“We’re still in that process, really to satisfy ourselves that we are going to be rewarding the prize to the rightful winner,” she said.

The BCLC has refused to say if the potential winner’s reluctance to be named is holding up the process. It also won’t comment on whether the delay is related to a civil suit launched before the winning ticket was turned in.

A Shoppers Drug Mart employee filed the lawsuit last year, alleging a co-worker had purchased the winning ticket for a workplace pool then concealed it.

The co-worker denied the allegation, insisting he forgot to buy tickets for that draw.

With a report from CTV Vancouver’s Shannon Paterson

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