Calgary man $65M richer after winning Alberta's largest lottery prize ever

A 63-year-old Calgary man has just become the province's newest multimillionaire, after winning the largest Lotto Max jackpot Alberta has ever seen.

Every day, Tai Trinhwould stop in at the same Shell store topurchase a coffee and a Lotto Max ticket. On Oct. 4, the quick pick ticket he bought just happened to have the winning numbers.

Trinh said he didn't tell any of his family or friends about the win, which was virtually kept secret until just recently.

This win tiesas the largest lottery win anywhere in Canada,and Trinh isthe 200th winner from the Prairies and Territories to be made a millionaire by Lotto Max since the game launched in 2009, saidAlain Maisonneuve, vice-president of Alberta Gaming Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC).

Breaks Calgary's6-year dry spell

Alberta has had a healthyshare of Lotto Max millionaires over the past decade.In Calgary alone, there have been 29 winners, totalling $172 million. In Alberta, there have been 125 winners, who have won a collective $822 million.

The last time Calgary hosted this kind of event for a major winner was more than six years ago, in May 2013.

"But that was for a mere $40 million," joked Len Rhodes, AGLC board chair.

Earlier in August, anEdmonton landscaper claimed a $60-million jackpot after sitting on the ticket for 10 months.

Trinhsaid he was one of the Vietnamese boat people who came to Canada in 1980. He said he has no plans yet to do anything special with the money.

"I'll put the money in the bank for now," he said.

A $50-million jackpot is still waiting to be claimed in Calgary. The ticket sold on August 30, but no one has yet come forward with the winning ticket.