Manitoba man in $5M lotto fight says money is his; denies ticket was a gift

Krystal McKay and Lawrence Campbell (right) pose after receiving a $5 million Lotto 6/49 win on January 30, 2024. (Jamie Dowsett/CTV News Winnipeg)

A Manitoba man whose then-girlfriend claimed a $5 million jackpot lottery says the money is his—and not a birthday gift to her.

Krystal Ann McKay is being sued by her ex-boyfriend Lawrence Campbell over a winning Lotto 6/49 ticket purchased in January 2024.

Per a statement of claim filed with the Manitoba Court of King’s Bench on May 14, Campbell alleges he purchased the ticket himself at the Canco convenience store on Isabel Street. The claim said he then handed it to McKay as he “had recently lost his wallet.”

A few days later, Campbell alleges he scanned the ticket—which was discarded on the ground at a friend’s house—with an app on his phone, only to realize he had won.

The claim says that after the pair spoke with an agent of the Western Canada Lottery Corporation, Campbell was told that he would be unable to claim the winnings as he did not have valid identification.

Instead, the claim alleges he was told to let McKay publicly claim the winnings, which she successfully deposited, as Campbell did not have an active bank account.

McKay then terminated the relationship, “ghosted him,” and refused to answer his calls or messages, according to the statement of claim.

In a statement of defence, McKay says the ticket was gifted to her as a birthday present—which Campbell denies in a recent court filing.

“The Plaintiff [Campbell] is not someone who buys and gives a romantic partner lotto tickets for their birthday,” reads the reply to the statement of defence filed on July 8.

The filing says that McKay’s birthday, which was the day after the lotto ticket was purchased, was a “coincidence.”

The reply also refutes McKay’s claim that she told him that she wanted to end the relationship in December 2023.

“Nobody buys gifts for someone who, allegedly, broke up with them the month prior, or at all and ever again,” it reads.

Western Canada Lottery Corporation and Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation are also named as defendants in the lawsuit.

“There were admitted key omissions of risk consultations and discussions and independent legal advice omissions by both (corporations),” reads the reply to the statement of defence.

‘Ownership of the ticket was never lawfully executed’: court filing

In a statement of defence filed on July 2, Western Canada Lottery Corporation said Campbell signed a release days after the lottery draw indicating he had no claim against the corporation regarding the ticket or prize.

However, Campbell’s reply says that “ownership of the ticket was never lawfully executed, released or transferred” due to “several critical deficiencies” with the release.

This includes not being signed with Campbell’s “ordinary cursive signature,” missing identity information for the witness, not capturing the signature under seal and not fulfilling the ID verification requirement.

The corporation also denies that it advised Campbell, or led him to believe, that he was ineligible to claim the winnings and that McKay should publicly claim the prize.

Both corporations deny that Campbell is entitled to the lottery winnings and call for the lawsuit to be dismissed in their statements of defence.

In June 2025, a temporary injunction was granted to prevent McKay from selling or transferring anything she owns over $3,500 until further notice.

CTV News has reached out to both corporations for comment. McKay’s lawyer said they have no comments.

None of the claims have been tested in court.

-With files from CTV’s Daniel Halmarson