Unclaimed $40M Lotto Max Ticket Sold in Grey County Set to Expire Wednesday

Grey County Ticket Nears Expiry as Clock Ticks on Millions

That’s the $40 million question, and I hope to fill in the name on this cheque, very soon, said Tony Bitonti, Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s Media Relations Coordinator.

“We’ve been waiting. Almost a year. It’s going to be a year in a little less than 24 hours that we’ve been waiting for this $40 million ticket holder to come forward,” said Tony Bitonti, Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s Media Relations Coordinator.

Time is running out for the holder of an unclaimed $40 million Lotto Max ticket purchased in Grey County. The winning ticket from the October 28, 2025, draw will expire at midnight on October 28, 2026, exactly one year after the draw took place. The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation issued urgent appeals for the missing claimant as the deadline approached.

The winning numbers for the October 28, 2025, draw are 06, 14, 17, 19, 26, 43, 45, with 27 as the bonus number. Grey County is made up of communities like Owen Sound, Meaford, The Blue Mountains, Flesherton, Markdale, Durham, and Hanover.

Lottery Officials Verify 50 Separate Winning Claims

Lottery officials hold extensive digital records of the transaction itself, yet lack the identity of the purchaser. Bitonti noted that the corporation possesses data detailing exactly when the ticket was purchased, what additional items were bought alongside it, and where the transaction occurred, but the physical paper slip remains unchecked on official apps or retail terminals.

Approximately 50 separate claims have been submitted by individuals insisting they hold the winning numbers. Lottery staff must conduct due diligence on these pending submissions before making any formal declarations regarding the prize.

Should the midnight deadline pass without a verified winner, the $40 million will revert directly into the Lotto Max prize pool for future games and promotions. This potential forfeiture ranks as the second largest unclaimed lottery prize in Canadian history. The largest recorded unclaimed sum remains a $70 million Lotto Max ticket sold in Scarborough for the June 28, 2022 draw, followed by a $15 million prize from British Columbia on August 13, 2021, and a $14.9 million Lotto 6/49 win in Alberta from June 7, 2006.

Tourist Inflows Complicate Final Hours

Because Grey County functions as a prominent regional destination for cottagers, tourists, and weekend visitors, officials suggest the purchaser might reside far outside the immediate municipalities. It is suggested that a visitor may have tucked the slip away during a trip and entirely forgotten about the investment.

Anyone who believes they purchased the valid ticket can submit details through the OLG Unclaimed Tickets portal or contact customer support directly before the midnight cutoff, or contact OLG at 1-800-387-0098.

By the end of the day on Wednesday Oct 28, 2026, customers will no longer have the opportunity to validate the ticket if they still have it and will also lose the chance to make a claim for the prize even if they think they have lost the ticket, Bitonti said.

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