An Edmonton man is planning a long-awaited reunion with his mother after winning $15 million with Lotto Max. Tae Seong Lee matched all seven numbers in the Oct. 7, 2025 draw and says his first priority is visiting his mom in Korea — something he hasn’t been able to do in several years.
“I’ll finally be able to go see my mom in Korea!” said Lee, while claiming his prize with the Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC).
Like many lottery winners, Lee also has a few practical plans in mind.
“The first thing on my mind is paying off our mortgage,” he said. “Maybe I’ll replace our car after that!”
Lee said he has long dreamed of owning a larger vehicle and may even buy a new truck. He also hopes the win will allow him to travel more and give back to his community.
The Albertan said he took a while to check his ticket, but when he finally scanned it at the store, he was stunned by what appeared on the screen.
“I’ve always dreamed of this day,” he said. “But when I first found out, I couldn’t quite believe it and had to scan again!”
After realizing the win was in fact real, Lee shared the news with his family. He told his wife first, followed by his daughter, and the family quickly began celebrating and talking about what life might look like after winning such a life-changing amount.
Lee said the entire experience still feels surreal after years of buying tickets and imagining what it would be like to win.
“My coworkers all have a dream to win, and they buy tickets like I do,” he said. “So, it’s truly amazing to win like this.”
Lee purchased his winning Lotto Max ticket from Petro-Canada located at 3003 Calgary Trail in Edmonton. He won the jackpot by matching all seven numbers — 5, 6, 16, 26, 29, 37, and 44 — in the Oct. 7, 2025 Lotto Max draw.
Lotto Max is one of Canada’s biggest lottery games, offering two draws every week, on Tuesdays and Fridays, for a chance to win jackpots that start at $10 million and can grow up to $80 million. Each play costs $5 and gives players three sets of seven numbers ranging from 1 to 50. For Lee, this big win means finally making the long-awaited trip to see his mom.
Tools to stop gambling
If you’re looking to take a break from gambling, self-exclusion programs can be effective tools. See here for resources that are available across Canada.
