Ottawa woman wins $70M with Lotto Max — plans to open a 'ranch' for addicts to work and recover

Patricia Warden, 49, has secured the ultimate prize with Lotto Max, taking home $70 million from the May 31, 2024 draw. During her emotional celebration, Warden shared her inspiring journey — from being a teen mother, to battling cancer and overcoming drug addiction, to now enjoying over 25 years of sobriety.

“I am a recovered and recovering addict. I have been sober for over 25 years. It is a life-long journey and it’s important to me to show others they can do it too, with access to the right support,” said Warden while claiming her prize at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto.

“There have been people who have been by my side my whole life, including my journey with addiction and cancer. Over the years, they’ve helped me get to where I am, and I want to bring them with me. They know who they are and know I won’t forget them.”

The Ottawa woman, who recently retired from a home disaster restoration company, is already mapping out how she plans to give back to her loved ones and community.

“A big dream I had is I wanted to get a ranch where addicts can come, and they can get their education, they have to work the animals, they have to do therapy and give them a chance to quit,” said Warden. “Everybody deserves love.”

Surrounded by a loving support system, including her husband, Warden vividly recalls the moment she discovered her life-changing win.

She was sitting on her backyard deck and checking her Lotto Max ticket when she realized her left hand was itching. Legend says a person with an itchy left hand will come into money. A few moments later, that proved to be true as she noticed that all seven numbers on her ticket matched the Lotto Max numbers on OLG.ca.

“I always check the numbers, as opposed to scanning it. I like to look at the numbers. The first few numbers matched and I just lost it and started screaming,” said Warden.

“My husband heard the commotion, saw my face turn red, and came running to prevent me from falling off the deck!”

When she finally told her husband that all the numbers matched on the ticket, he couldn’t believe it.

“Because I wasn’t wearing my glasses, my husband told me to check the numbers again,” said Warden. The couple then turned to the OLG app and saw the “Big Winner” message on the screen.

“My knees went weak, and I thought I was going to fall again,” said Warden. “I kept thinking this was a dream and I was going to wake up and find it wasn’t true.”

But this was reality, and first up, Warden decided to call her mom to share the incredible news. Her mom had recently moved in with her and her husband.

“My mom was trying to calm me down and understand what I was saying. When I spoke clearly enough for her to understand I won the lottery and how much I won, she was overwhelmed with emotion,” said Warden.

“My first words to my mom were ‘you don’t have to live in a small room with all your stuff anymore.' She’s lost her privacy and her sense of dignity and I can’t wait to give her that back."

Then, it was time for Warden to tell her four children, who too were immediately in disbelief of the news.

“I knew right away how much this win would impact my life and the lives of my children and grandchildren. My kids were excited, emotional, and filled with gratitude,” said Warden.

One of the first things the winner wants to do with her windfall is purchase a new home for her daughter. Next, she wants to find a home for herself and her husband, their two children and her mom. She specified that her daughter's home and her new home should be close to each other.

“I want to keep my family close. Our multi-generational household has a wonderful dynamic and I want to find a house that will accommodate all of our needs,” said Warden, who will also help another daughter and her family with their expenses.

Despite the excitement, Warden’s immediate priority with her newfound wealth is simple.

“I’m going to sleep! I haven’t had a good night’s sleep since I found out. The waves of emotion are happening even when I’m trying to sleep. I’m relieved I don’t have to wake up and make sure the ticket is still safe anymore,” she said.

Warden has been a longtime enthusiast of OLG lottery games like Crossword, The Big Spin, and Lotto Max. She likes to use OLG’s Quick Pick feature to choose her lottery numbers.

“I played because it’s fun just dreaming,” said Warden.

Her winning numbers—1, 4, 18, 19, 23, 28, 29—came from a ticket purchased at Mr. Gas on Ogilvie Road in Ottawa.

Lotto Max, a nationwide game available to Canadians across all provinces and territories, offers players the chance to win big with draws every Tuesday and Friday. With a $5 per play cost, players can select their numbers or opt for a quick pick for their chance at joining the ranks of lucky winners.

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.