James Jutzi initially won $2 on a Lotto Max ticket and decided to put it back down for a Lotto 6/49 ticket. Little did he know, that small investment paid off big when he won a record-breaking $66 million prize in the June 15, 2024 Lotto 6/49 Gold Ball draw.
With this life-changing win in his pocket, Jutzi said he is ready to say goodbye to work forever.
“I’ve been working as a handyman since I was a kid. When I found out I’d won I said, ‘That’s it! No more work!’” said Jutzi.
The first person he called after discovering his big win? His boss, as he decided to call into work “rich.”
“He thought I was lying,” said Jutzi. “He asked if I could come in to work. I said: ‘No.’”
Jutzi says he’s known since the 1980s that he would one day win the lottery.
“I believe in God, and God showed me not in one dream, but in a series of dreams that I won the lottery,” said Jutzi, who had four back-to-back dreams in 1986 about securing a jackpot.
He couldn’t see the winning amount then, but clearly remembers holding the cheque.
“I didn’t know how much I was gonna win. I didn’t know when I was gonna win. But I knew I was going to win because God never lies,” said Jutzi.
Despite the dreams, Jutzi said he took his ticket to check it in-store. At first, it hadn’t sunk in that he had won such a big prize.
“I always go to the same place, and they know me by name now,” said Jutzi. “When the win came up, it was a lot of zeroes and I had to really look. I went right up to the counter and the cashier’s eyes went so wide.
“His eyes almost popped out of his head. He was more surprised than me!”
Jutzi’s win sets a new record as the biggest-ever Lotto 6/49 winner not only in Alberta, but throughout the Prairies and the North. The Gold Ball jackpot can grow to a maximum of $68 million and has been won at that level only once in September 2023, by Noel Patricio of Ontario.
After a life of hard work, the lucky winner is finally ready for some rest and relaxation. First, Jutzi said he is looking forward to a well-deserved vacation.
“It’s a lot to digest, but I know I deserve a vacation, and I’m so excited,” said Jutzi, who has also already decided on his first purchase.
“I’ve bought my mom an Escalade,” he said. “I also heard Cadillac is making a truck that I may have my eye on!”
After treating his mom and upgrading his own ride, Jutzi also plans on buying property. He also dabbled with the idea of buying a Porsche 911 Turbo. Jutzi said overall, he’s excited to start a new chapter. He said his win is quite literally a dream come true for him.
For Western Canada, Jutzi is the second Lotto 6/49 ticket in Calgary to take home the Gold Ball Jackpot. The first —a $50 million prize — was won by three former coworkers in December 2023.
If you’re looking to take a break from gambling, self-exclusion programs can be effective tools. See here for resources that are available across Canada.
