# Ontario lottery ticket validated hours before expiry

> Ontario lottery ticket validated hours before $40M jackpot expiry.
- Title: Ontario lottery ticket validated hours before expiry
- Summary: Ontario lottery ticket validated hours before $40M jackpot expiry. Ontario's $40 million Lotto Max jackpot ticket was validated at a terminal hours before…
- Keywords: ontario, lotto max, lottery ticket, 40 million, jackpot, olg, grey county, news, politics, lottery, ticket, validated
- Source: National Post — https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/40-million-ontario-lottery-ticket
- Author: Emily Renae Kapralik
- Published: 2026-10-30T16:38:56+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: ontario, lotto max, lottery ticket, 40 million, jackpot, olg, grey county, news, politics
## Winning ticket validated
Ontario's $40 million Lotto Max jackpot ticket was validated at a terminal hours before its deadline.
## Unclaimed for a year
The winning ticket remained unclaimed for a year until it was validated at a lottery terminal.
## OLG director reaction
OLG director Tony Bitonti called the situation 'gobsmacked' and said the ticket would be claimed within days.

> i am gobsmacked
## Claim process
The OLG requires proof of purchase and security footage to verify the ticket's original owner.
## What happens if unclaimed
If no one claimed the ticket by midnight, the $40 million prize would be returned to future Lotto Max games.
## Grey County location
The winning ticket was purchased in Grey County, a popular vacation destination for cottagers.
## Key takeaway

Ontario's $40 million Lotto Max jackpot ticket was validated at a terminal hours before its deadline, with the winner expected to be announced within days.