Lotto Max Winner From BC Only Bought A Ticket Because His Co-Workers Were Buying One

A Lotto Max winner said he only decided to buy a ticket when he saw his co-workers buying theirs — a decision which has now made him a millionaire.

Binxiao Qin, from Burnaby, B.C., was inspired into buying a ticket when they reminded him that there was an upcoming draw. He then decided to also buy a ticket.

The next day, the same co-workers were checking their tickets only to find out that they'd won $1. That reminded Qin to check his tickets and he said it came as a total shock.

He said: "They were buying their tickets, so I thought ‘okay, I’ll follow along, I’ll buy too...I was just so surprised."

Qin won $1 million from the Maxmillions prize pot in the December 10 Lotto Max draw.

He plans to use some of his winnings towards his wedding day, adding: "My fiancée was so surprised... we found out on the BCLC Lotto! App [the day after the draw]. I showed her the phone and we saw the $1 million prize."

Qin follows in the footsteps of a B.C. couple who decided to use their Lotto Max winnings to give their restaurant staff a bonus for the holidays.

Emmanuel and Stavroula Savvaidis, from Powell River, B.C. won $500,000 by playing the Extra in the Lotto Max draw on November 5.