Winning $66M Lotto 6-49 ticket purchased in Calgary

Someone who bought a lottery ticket in Calgary just won $66 million.

The Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC) says the ticket, purchased somewhere in the city, won the June 15 Lotto 6-49 Gold Ball draw.

"So whether you're a resident or were just passing through, if you picked up a ticket, you'd better check it," the WCLC said in a Monday news release.

"We have never seen a jackpot of this scale in our region," said Emily Olson, media relation strategist for the WCLC.

"We're so excited to celebrate with the winner whenever they come forward."

This win comes just over six months after the Gold Ball was first won in Calgary.

In that case, a group of three former co-workers shared $50 million.

The WCLC says Saturday's $66-million prize is record-breaking, larger than all other Lotto 6-49 prizes handed out across the Prairies.

The winning Gold Ball selection for June 15 was 25057749-01.

The owner of the winning ticket is asked to call the WCLC's player care line at 1-800-665-3313.

For transparency, the winner's (or winners') name(s) along with a photo showing their full identity will be published and they are not allowed to disguise themselves.

The store the ticket was bought at will also be named.

The winner or winners have a year to claim their prize.

Financial advice

Leanna Wachniak, a wealth and investment adviser with Popowich Karmali Advisory at CIBC Wood Gundy, has advice for those who claim the winning ticket.

"The first thing that's important to do is speak to somebody who can help you work out a way to make that money last for you over time."

"The No. 1 thing that lottery winners tend to do is they tend to go out and have all of this money they think they can live forever on.

"If your goal is to never work again or to retire from your job, it's important to actually set up your cash flow in a way that you're going to be able to live the lifestyle that you want for the length of time that you have left."

She says living within one's means is important with or without a lottery win.

"It doesn't matter how much money you have, if you spend it at a rate that's faster than it can keep up with, you're going to run into issues no matter the amount of money."

Wachniak points to family members who "come out of the woodwork" expecting financial support.

"Some people feel obligated to help with that. Some people don't feel like they have the means to do that. So those are some of the issues that sometimes they encounter there," Wachniak said.