A Winnipeg man is suing his former girlfriend for allegedly absconding with his CA$5 million (approximately Rs. 30 crore) lottery win with her new boyfriend.
Lawrence Campbell claims to have bought the 2024 winning lottery ticket but was not able to claim the winnings himself because he lacked valid identification. Following the recommendation of Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC) officials, Campbell requested his then-girlfriend, Krystal Ann McKay, to come in and claim the wins on his behalf.
In a statement to CTV News, Campbell explained that he had complete confidence in McKay and called their relationship ‘a loyal, committed and promising romantic partnership’ that had existed for more than 18 months. The two had been cohabiting at the time. Because Campbell did not have a bank account, he also accepted letting McKay deposit the prize money under her own name.
At first, all seemed to be well. The couple had taken a verification video at a Shoppers Drug Mart and had their photos taken with the symbolic big cheque. The victory was also hailed in public as Campbell’s birthday present to McKay. But McKay’s serious face in the photos raised eyebrows.
“She had been bugging me for three weeks to obtain a ticket, but I never went to obtain one,” Campbell remembered. “Then we drove past one, and I was like ‘OK, I might as well go obtain you one right now.'”
But days later, after winning the prize, McKay disappeared. She stopped coming back to their common hotel room, Campbell said, and cut all contact. When he finally located her, he said he found her “in bed with another guy.”
Campbell’s lawyer added further, “She ghosted him, would not answer his calls or his messages, she blocked him on her social media, and even took out a protection order.” McKay has denied all the accusations, her lawyer said.
The suit, which has been filed in Manitoba’s Court of King’s Bench, not only sues the McKay but also WCLC and Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries as co-defendants. Campbell complains that the lottery companies provided inadequate advice and did not warn him of the possible risks of having someone else pick up the winnings.
This case is about systemic karma, not the system itself,” Campbell’s attorney contended. “A circumstance brought about, or at least facilitated, by the state-owned lottery corporations processing claims in Manitoba.
