What To Do If You Win: A First 24-Hour Checklist

It’s 10:30 PM on a Friday. You check your phone. The numbers match. 04 - 11 - 23 - 34 - 45 - 46 - 49. You check again. You check the date. You check the ticket. It’s real. You just won $70 Million.

Your heart is racing. You feel nauseous. You want to scream. You want to call your mom. STOP.

What you do in the next 24 hours will define the rest of your life. The difference between a "Happy Man" story and a "Lottery Curse" tragedy starts right now.

Here is the professional protocol for handling a major jackpot win in Canada.

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Phase 1: The First 60 Minutes (Immediate Security)

Do not assume you are safe just because you hold the paper.

1. Sign It. Now.

A lottery ticket is a "Bearer Instrument." This is a legal term meaning: "Whoever holds this paper owns the money." If you drop an unsigned winning ticket on the sidewalk and a stranger picks it up, signs their name, and claims it... they legally own the $70 Million. You would have to spend years in court proving you bought it (via CCTV footage), and you might still lose.

• Action: Grab a ballpoint pen (not pencil). Sign your name on the signature line on the back. Print your name clearly.

2. Take Photos and Scans

Once signed, place the ticket on a flat surface.

• Take a high-resolution photo of the FRONT.
• Take a high-resolution photo of the BACK.
• If you have a home scanner, scan both sides.
• Upload these images to a secure cloud folder (Dropbox/Google Drive) immediately. This is your insurance policy if the physical ticket is destroyed in a fire or flood tomorrow.

3. Hide It (The "Safe Place")

Do not carry the ticket in your wallet. Do not put it in your sock drawer.

• Best: A fireproof home safe.
• Good: A safety deposit box at a bank (go there first thing tomorrow morning).
• Temporary: Inside a Ziploc bag (waterproofing), hidden inside an obscure book or freezer container until the bank opens.

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Phase 2: The Silence Protocols

The urge to tell people is overwhelming. Biology is flooding your brain with dopamine. You must fight it.

Rule 1: Tell NO ONE.

• Do not tell your children. Kids talk. They will tell their best friend, who will tell their parents, who will tweet it.
• Do not tell your best friend. Jealousy is a powerful drug. Relationships change instantly when $70M is involved.
• Do not post on Social Media. No vague-booking ("Best day ever!"). No emojis. Nothing.

Rule 2: Exception - The Spouse

If you are effectively married (or common-law), you generally must tell your partner. In Canada, lottery wins during marriage are usually considered "Net Family Property" and subject to 50/50 division anyway. keeping it a secret is futile and damaging. Sit them down. Take their phone away first. Tell them. Swear them to secrecy.

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Phase 3: The "Dream Team"

Before you call OLG/BCLC to claim the prize, you need professional armor. You are about to become a small corporation.

1. The Lawyer

Do not hire the guy who did your house closing or your will. You need a specialist. Search for a "High Net Worth Trust & Estate Lawyer" at a major downtown firm.

• Role: They act as the buffer between you and the world. They will arrange the claim with the lottery corporation to minimize your exposure.

2. The Accountant (CPA)

You need a tax specialist who understands massive wealth.

• Role: Structuring the deposit to prevent immediate tax drag, planning for your first year of inevitable tax bills (see our Tax Guide), and setting up "Family Trusts" if you plan to share the money.

3. The Financial Planner (Fee-Only)

Do not go to your local bank branch. The "Financial Advisor" at the teller desk is a salesperson.

• Role: Creating a "Capital Preservation" plan. If you invest $70M at 4%, you earn $2.8M/year without touching the principal. You never need to gamble on stocks.

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Phase 4: Validation & Claiming (The Dangerous Part)

You eventually have to hand the ticket over.

The "Self-Check" Rule

NEVER hand a $70 Million ticket to a convenience store clerk to check.

• There have been cases of "Insider Wins" where unscrupulous clerks swap tickets or tell the customer "You won $70" while keeping the $70M ticket.
• Protocol: Use the Self-Checker Scanner found away from the counter. Or use the official Lottery App on your own phone to scan the barcode. Confirm the win privately.

The Appointment

For prizes over $1,000 (usually), you cannot claim at a store. Your lawyer will call the Prize Centre (in Toronto for OLG, Vancouver for BCLC, etc.).

• They will schedule a private appointment.
• You will go in a secure way.
• Bring ID. Bring the ticket.

The "Insider" Interview

The lottery corporation has a dedicated police unit (OPP detail or similar) that investigates major wins. They will interview you.

• "Where did you buy it?"
• "What time?"
• "Did you buy anything else?"
• "Do you know anyone who works for the lottery?"
• Why? To prevent fraud. Answer truthfully. They already know the answers (they have the sales data). They are testing you.

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Phase 5: The Aftermath

You have the cheque. Now what?

1. The "Cooling Off" Period

Do not quit your job the next day.

• Call in sick. Take a "Stress Leave" or vacation for 2 weeks.
• Let the emotions settle. Making irrevocable decisions (quitting, divorcing, moving) while high on dopamine leads to disaster.

2. Pay Off Debt

This is the only IMMEDIATE spending you should do.

• Mortgage: Gone.
• Credit Cards: Gone.
• Loans: Gone. Becoming debt-free is the single greatest feeling of wealth. Enjoy that feeling before you buy a Ferrari.

3. Sudden Wealth Syndrome

Be aware that winning causes anxiety, paranoia (everyone is after me), and guilt (why me?). Many winners seek therapy. This is normal. You are navigating a trauma—a positive trauma, but a trauma nonetheless.

Summary

1. Sign the back immediately.
2. Hide the ticket in a safe.
3. Shut up. Tell no one but your spouse.
4. Hire a lawyer before you claim.

Enjoy the moment. You have beaten the odds. Now, beat the curse.