It appears the $3-million Lotto 6-49 ticket sold in Castlegar was checked Thursday at a local drug store, but lottery officials still have to do some "due diligence" before confirming the win and handing over the cash.
Staff at Shoppers Drug Mart told the Castlegar News on Thursday afternoon that an apparent multi-million-dollar ticket was brought into the store earlier in the day, but when it comes to a prize of that magnitude it's up to the B.C. Lottery Corporation to confirm and make any official statements.
BCLC spokesman Trevor Miller said the ticket may have been checked, but nothing is official until the bearer brings it in to a BCLC office in Kamloops or Vancouver for verification.
"We have to do our due diligence and our security team has to check things out," Miller said.
Among other things, Miller said lottery officials need to make sure the ticket "belongs to its rightful owner" before the prize can be awarded.
If and when the verification is complete, the BCLC will make a formal announcement.
"We know in a smaller community like Castlegar, this is big news," Miller said.