By Dylana Milobar

Merritt couple presented with massive Lotto Max prize

Feb 27, 2019 | 11:08 AM

KAMLOOPS — Sometimes ‘Lady Luck’ shines upon you, and for a Merritt couple, she couldn’t have shined any brighter.

George Munro and Rowena Inyallie became millionaires overnight, matching all seven of their Lotto Max numbers to make up Friday’s winning ticket.

While the win is still fresh, the couple has already treated themselves to a new vehicle, and have an idea of how they would like to spend their $25.9 million. 

Munro and Inyallie purchased their $6 Lotto Max ticket from Shah’s Courtesy Corner store Friday evening on a whim. 

Coincidentally, Munro says it was the same corner store in Merritt where Michael Shuter bought an $11 million winning ticket in 2013.

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“So we had two tickets, I scan the first one and it was not a winner. So then I got my second ticket, I scanned it. The numbers went by and I thought, ‘Holy cow I won $25,000’,” he explains. “I scan it again, but this time I was right up close, and I was like, ‘That’s way more than $25,000.”

While still trying to wrap their heads around just how much money they now have the couple has already purchased a new Ford 350 pick up. 

And they will also be living out a bit of a sports car dream. 

“I was looking up things on Youtube and I saw the Ford Shelby,” Munro explains. “It sounded so badass, I told the wife, she said well we’ve got to get a summer car, and I said I wanted that, so it’s on its way.”

Aside from new vehicles and some home renovations, the couple doesn’t plan on keeping the money to themselves, with two children, two grandsons, and friends in mind.

“We definitely know who has helped us out, and we’re definitely going to help them out because they were there for us,” Munro says. “And I’m sure they know who they are.”

BCLC cannot offer financial advice, however they do encourage winners to seek help navigating their sudden wealth. 

“Right now I think we just need to sit down with our financial… advisor and go from there,” Inyallie explains.

Currently working with a contracting company at Highland Valley, Munro won’t be leaving the job right away.

“They were pretty helpful when we were going through hard times,” he says. “So I told the boss I can stick around while you find somebody.”

And for those holding out hope for their own lottery win, the odds of winning the Lotto Max jackpot is one in 28 million.