Survey Finds Canadians Want to Live Their Dreams to the Max

TORONTO, Feb. 25 /CNW/ - Most people agree buying a house or a new car is a rite of passage for lottery winners. However, when asked about how they would "live their dreams to the max" if they won the $50 Million LOTTO MAX jackpot, almost 45 per cent of Canadians said that they would go beyond these typical big win purchases.

In anticipation of the big $50 Million LOTTO MAX jackpot draw on Friday, February 26, a recent Angus-Reid Public Opinion survey on behalf of Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, asked Canadians what they would do if they won an extra large jackpot like this. While most responded they would invest, save for retirement and help their family, almost half said they have "max dreams" to fulfill.

Highlights of the survey are as follows:

    
    -  11% would buy a vacation property on every continent
    -  10% of Canadians aged 18 to 34 would buy a yacht and travel the world
    -  8% would buy an island and invite their friends
    -  17% would start their own charity
    

Some even have out of this world dreams: 2% of Canadians responded they would want to be the first lottery winner in space.

"We're happy to see that Canadians are dreaming big, which is why we developed Lotto Max in the first place," said Greg McKenzie, Senior VP of Lottery at OLG.

This Friday's LOTTO MAX draw sits at a $50 million jackpot plus an estimated nine additional MAXMILLIONS prizes worth $1 Million each. This is now the second largest prize money offering in Canadian history.

The previous top $50 Million jackpot with LOTTO MAX was won in November 2009 by a Manitoba couple. With this draw, LOTTO MAX is offering more top-prize money than the October 2005 record LOTTO 6/49 jackpot of $54.3 million.

LOTTO MAX can be played at OLG retail locations across the province.

For facts, figures and other information about LOTTO MAX, visit http://www.olg.ca/lotteries/games/howtoplay.do?game=lottomax.

OLG is a provincial agency responsible for province-wide lottery games and gaming facilities. Since 1975, OLG lotteries, casinos, slots, and resort casinos have generated more than $28 billion for the benefit of the Province of Ontario. Gaming proceeds support Ontario's hospitals, amateur sport, recreational and cultural activities, communities, provincial priority programs such as health care and education, and local and provincial charities and non-profit organizations through the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

    
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For further information: For photo and more information contact: Sarah Kiriliuk, Media Relations Manager, [phone]; Prize Centre Media Line, [phone], 20 Dundas St. West, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C2