A Vancouver man is "set for life" after buying a lottery ticket at a gas station and winning big.
Mustapha Salmi typically plays crossword or bingo scratch tickets, but he decided to try something different at a recent visit to the gas station.
This time, the Vancouverite purchased a Set for Life ticket from the Super Save gas station on No. 5 Road in Richmond, where he's a regular customer; he also checked his ticket at the location.
“I usually play Crossword or Bingo scratch tickets,” he said. “I saw that they had a new Set for Life ticket so I bought it. I won two free tickets and then, on the last ticket, I won.
“I couldn’t believe it.”
Breaking from habit paid off big for Salmi, who won a cool $675,000 playing Set for Life.
“I showed the retailer…he scanned the ticket in the machine and saw that I won. He was more excited than I was!”
Next, Salmi called BCLC to start the prize-claim process and still couldn’t believe what was unfolding.
“It happened to me? Really?” Salmi recalled saying. His closest friend also thought he was kidding when he shared his news.
Salmi says his top priority will be to plan a trip to visit family overseas, but not before treating his Vancouver friends and family to a celebratory dinner.
“I wake up feeling free,” he said. “It will help me help my family.”
In 2021, B.C. lottery players have so far redeemed more than $12 million in Set for Life prizes.
The BCLC reminds you: "Remember, play for fun, not to make money."
