A stroke of incredible fortune has ushered in the New Year for one individual or group in Ontario, who are now $80 million richer after holding the sole winning ticket for Tuesday night's massive Lotto Max jackpot.
The $80 Million Windfall
The life-changing ticket was purchased in London, Ontario, ending weeks of anticipation for the top prize. According to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), this marks the first time an $80 million jackpot has been won in Ontario since the maximum prize was increased to that amount in March 2024.
This win is a rare event in itself. It is only the second time a single ticket has captured the full $80 million since the cap was raised. The first instance was a lone winner in British Columbia during the draw on May 9, 2025.
The winning numbers for the December 31, 2025, draw were: 05-21-32-38-43-44-45, with a bonus number of 49.
A Cascade of Maxmillions and Encore Winners
While the jackpot winner is the headline story, the draw created a wave of new millionaires and big winners across the province through the Maxmillions and Encore games.
OLG's director of communications noted that sales were "brisk," resulting in 51 Maxmillions prizes being drawn from an estimated 49. Ontario players won an impressive 13 of the 15 Maxmillions prizes available.
Seven Maxmillions tickets, each worth $1 million, were sold in:
- Hamilton
- Thornhill
- Barrie
- Prince Edward County/Hastings area
- Niagara area
- Toronto (two winning tickets)
Additional significant prizes included four Maxmillions tickets worth $500,000, sold in Vaughan (split with a ticket from Windsor) and York Region (split with a ticket from OLG.ca). Furthermore, winning tickets in Ajax and York Region are each worth $333,333.40, sharing a three-way split with another winner in Western Canada.
Encore Adds to the Winnings
The Encore draw also produced major wins. One ticket sold in Ajax is worth $1 million, while three other tickets—sold in Durham Region, Grey County, and Welland—are each valued at $100,000.
What's Next for Lotto Max?
With the massive jackpot claimed, the prize pool resets. The next Lotto Max draw, scheduled for Friday, now features an estimated jackpot of $46 million.
The identity of the new $80 million multimillionaire from London remains a mystery for now. The winner has up to one year to come forward and claim their historic prize, which will undoubtedly fund a New Year's celebration like no other.
