Penticton couple ‘experiencing every emotion imaginable’ after winning $75M lotto jackpot

A Penticton couple says they were relaxing at home when they saw that someone in Penticton won the $75-million jackpot from the April 7 Lotto Max draw.

Maureen and Darrell pulled out the ticket they purchased at Smart Shopper on Main Street in Penticton and checked it online, then came to the realization that they were the lucky winners.

“I pulled the ticket out and the numbers were lining up,” recalled Darrell. “We manually referenced the winning tickets online but we needed to check at a terminal.”

After taking a few weeks to figure out their next moves, they completed their prize claim at the BCLC office in Vancouver on June 30.

They now plan to celebrate with family and friends over an intimate gathering while figuring out what’s next for them after securing a life-changing windfall.

The couple describes themselves as “outdoorsy people,” so their future plans will almost certainly include some trips to various destinations.

“We might rent a camper or maybe take a nice cruise around the world,” Maureen noted. Darrell also mentioned Europe as a potential travel destination.

While there will be more than enough to spend on their own endeavours, they also plan to be philanthropic with their winnings.

“We will be setting a small amount aside for ourselves, and the remaining is allocated to specific charity organizations that are important to us,” they said.

As they claimed their prize in Vancouver, the couple was asked about how it feels to win the Lotto Max jackpot.

Darrel summed it up: “We’re excited, but experiencing every emotion imaginable.”