Walter Klym has been entering Canada's BC 49 Lotto drawings for a long time with very little luck apart from a few small wins. All that changed at the weekend when his persistence was rewarded with a CAD$ 500,000 win.
"I've been playing BC 49 since it came out and have won a few little amounts like $10. I always play the Extra," Klym said. "I guess I'm still hoping to win the jackpot one day."
Klym bought his lucky ticket from the local Shopper's Drug Mart, on Saturday, June 21, 2014, but never checked his numbers until the following morning when he popped down to Coopers Foods to buy a few groceries. He ran the ticket through the self-checker while he was there and was shocked to see so many zeros light up the display.
"I had to check it again," Klym said. "It started to sink in when the retailer said the terminal had frozen and I would have to call BCLC."
Klym's keen to get behind the wheel of a new car, but before he gets himself revved up an ready to go he and his wife plan to share some the winnings with their children and grandchildren.
BC 49 Lottery drawings are held on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The next drawing is on Wednesday, June 25, 2014. The estimated jackpot is CAD$ 2 million.