Man sues ex over $5M lottery ticket, claims she ghosted him

A man in Canada says his ex-girlfriend “ghosted” him after claiming a $5-million lottery prize he bought. Now, he is asking a judge to stop her from giving away any of the winnings or selling off her assets.

Lawrence Campbell filed a lawsuit alleging that his former partner, Krystal McKay, claimed the Lotto 6/49 jackpot from a ticket he purchased — and that she's now refusing to return his share.

A ticket bought on a hunch, then handed to his girlfriend

Campbell says he bought the $5-million winning ticket at a convenience store on Isabel Street in Winnipeg the day before the January 20, 2024, draw for the Canadian Lottery. According to the court filing, he claims he gave the ticket to McKay because he had recently lost his wallet and had no ID at the time.

The next day, Campbell scanned the ticket using the Lotto 6/49 app and discovered he'd won. Believing he couldn't claim the prize himself without identification, he says he trusted McKay to claim it on his behalf — on the understanding that she would hold the winnings in trust until he was able to retrieve them.

Winnings claimed as the relationship collapses

McKay went on to claim the prize, and Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC) listed her as the sole winner in a January 30, 2024, news release, stating she received the ticket as a birthday gift from her boyfriend. Campbell's lawsuit denies the ticket was a gift, stating instead that it was never intended solely for McKay.

After the win, the couple stayed briefly in a hotel room together. However, according to the lawsuit, McKay disappeared one night and was later found in bed with another man.

Campbell claims she told him she wanted to be with the new man and soon cut all contact, blocking him on social media, refusing calls, and even taking out a protection order against him.

Lottery corporations are also named in the suit

In addition to McKay, Campbell is suing the Western Canada Lottery Corporation and Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries, the Crown corporation responsible for gaming in the province. He claims WCLC staff gave him “ill-gotten and negligent advice” that led to McKay being named as the sole winner to “unlawfully keep the lotto monies all to herself.”

Campbell alleges the organizations failed to prevent what he says was a misappropriation of his winnings.

A motion before the Court of King's Bench in Winnipeg on Friday seeks to freeze McKay's assets to prevent her from selling or gifting anything of value — including cash, investments, vehicles, or real estate — while the case plays out.

“Jackpot winner and jackpot loser”

Campbell's lawyer, Chad Panting, stated:

No one in all of history has simultaneously been a jackpot winner and jackpot loser of the same draw, with the same numbers, on the same ticket.

Panting added that his client placed trust in his partner and the system, only to feel deceived and burned.

The allegations have not been tested in court. McKay, WCLC, and Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries have not filed statements of defense and have not responded to requests for comment.

Enjoy playing the lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.