'Millionaire March' for B.C. Lottery Players as Another Jackpot Winner Claims Prize

Kevin Bowser from Houston, B.C. will split last Friday's $19 Million LOTTO MAX jackpot with another winner in Abbotsford, with each taking home $9.5 Million.

For Bowser, hitting the jackpot meant hitting the road, since he drove 13 hours from Houston (with a population of less than 3,000 people) to Richmond after he learned he'd won.

"I asked my brother for a ride because I didn't have a reliable car," said the 48-year-old fork-lift operator. "I had the ticket in my wallet and checked it just about every fifteen minutes!"

With the Abbotsford winner still to come, the total number of major jackpots claimed in B.C. this month will be four, after a pair of postal workers, Derek and Frances Bird, from Surrey claimed B.C.'s biggest ever lottery jackpot of $25 Million on the first of March and Vancouver's Ivy Leung claimed the BC/49's $2 Million top prize just two days later.

"This has been a remarkable month for our players," said Vice-President of Lottery Gaming, Jim Lightbody. "To have jackpot winners in back-to-back draws on our new national lottery game, LOTTO MAX, is outstanding. Add a BC/49 winner and it makes for a pretty fantastic month - and we're only nine days in!"

Bowser, who plans to "quit his job and buy a house," purchased his lucky ticket at the Bulkley Valley Foods in his hometown.

LOTTO MAX can be played at all BCLC retail locations and online at www.PlayNow.com.

Click for photo of winner: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/bclc39.JPG.

BCLC is a provincial Crown Corporation that offers socially responsible gaming entertainment while generating income that benefits all British Columbians. BCLC is an Official Supporter of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

tmiller@bclc.com