Loto-Québec is on a public hunt for a potential millionaire, as the clock ticks down on an unclaimed $1 million prize from a Lotto 6/49 draw held nearly a year ago. The winning ticket, which must be claimed within the next two weeks, was purchased in Quebec's Laurentians region.
The Search for the Winning Ticket Holder
The lottery corporation has revealed that the valuable ticket for the January 4, 2025, Lotto 6/49 draw was sold within the Thérèse-De Blainville Regional County Municipality. According to the rules, winners have exactly one year from the draw date to claim their prize, setting a firm deadline of January 4, 2026.
"There’s someone out there with a ticket worth $1 million," stated Loto-Québec spokesperson Renaud Dugas, urging players to check their old tickets immediately. He emphasized that the winner may not necessarily be a resident of the Laurentians but could have been traveling through the area when they made the purchase.
A Race Against the Expiry Clock
Dugas noted that for security reasons and to ensure the rightful owner claims the prize, the specific retail location where the ticket was sold cannot be disclosed. He shared that in Loto-Québec's history, no one has ever let a ticket worth more than $1 million expire.
He recounted a close call from April 2019, where a couple discovered a $1 million winning ticket tucked inside a book just two days before it was set to expire. The ticket was found in a book about Japan that their grandson had borrowed for a school presentation.
"In the vast majority of cases, claims for large amounts like this are made within two to three weeks of the draw," Dugas explained. "But sometimes, people check at the last-minute because they’ve heard or read an article saying that Loto-Québec is looking for a millionaire."
How to Check and Claim the Prize
The unclaimed prize is from the "guaranteed prize (white ball)" category of the Lotto 6/49 game, with the winning selection number 66457230-01. Loto-Québec hopes the publicity will prompt the rightful owner to search in common places where tickets are often stored, such as on refrigerators, in glove compartments, or coat pockets.
Players are encouraged to verify their tickets through one of three methods:
- On the official Loto-Québec website at lotoquebec.com
- Using the Loto‑Québec mobile application
- At any authorized lottery retail outlet
Anyone holding a winning ticket should contact Loto-Québec’s customer service line at 1-866-611-5686. If the prize remains unclaimed after the deadline, the funds will be redistributed to players through bonus prizes and special draws, as per standard protocol.
