Alberta Retiree Celebrates Fourth Lottery Win, Claims $2.5M

David Serkin, a retiree from Lethbridge, Alberta, has made headlines once again after winning his fourth significant lottery prize, totaling $2.5 million in under a year. His most recent victory occurred on May 3, 2025, when he claimed $1 million in the Lotto 6/49 Gold Ball draw. This remarkable winning streak has left even Serkin himself astonished.

“I’m a cancer survivor and I’m retired, so I am just grateful for all of it,” Serkin said while claiming his latest prize from the Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC). His winning ticket was purchased at a Shell station in Lethbridge while he was filling up on gas. The winning numbers included 24645097-05, a white ball.

Serkin is well aware of the low odds associated with winning the lottery, acknowledging that they are “astronomical.” The odds of winning a Lotto Max jackpot or a Maxmillions prize stand at 1 in 33,294,800, while the odds for Lotto 6/49’s Gold Ball draw fluctuate based on ticket sales across Canada. “I saw the Gold Ball draw was getting close [to the final ball selection] and thought, ‘What do I have to lose?’” he shared.

After realizing he had won, Serkin met friends for coffee and showed them his winning ticket. “They said, ‘Not again?!’” he chuckled. His wife remains in disbelief, though they are already planning a trip to Newfoundland. “I took my wife to Hawaii with the last win, and we had a great time,” he noted. “Now, we’re going to Newfoundland!”

Serkin’s history with the lottery dates back to 1982 when he began playing Lotto 6/49. His first big win came in 2012 when he took home $250,000. However, his recent series of wins truly began to unfold in August 2024, when he discovered he had won $500,000 with a Lotto Max ticket he scanned using the Lotto Spot app. This prize was shared with another player who matched the winning Maxmillions numbers: 4, 15, 20, 25, 29, 42, 43.

“My wife asked if I’d won $5,000, and I said, ‘No, $500,000!’” said Serkin, who then informed his coffee group of the win. “I told them I would be missing our coffees for a couple of days to drive to Edmonton,” he added, referring to the trip necessitated by his win.

Just three months later, on November 16, 2024, Serkin struck gold yet again, winning $1 million in another Lotto 6/49 Gold Ball draw, matching selection 30183765-20. His friends and family were once again taken aback by his lucky streak. “They all asked how I’d managed to win twice!” he remarked, noting that the playful teasing from his friends increased with each win.

Serkin’s wins have allowed him to treat family and friends and plan trips, including a return to Maui, where he and his wife honeymooned. “You’ve got to keep your wife happy, and I’ve been doing it for decades,” he said.

The lottery games Serkin has participated in include two of Canada’s most prominent: Lotto Max and Lotto 6/49. Lotto Max features draws every Tuesday and Friday, with jackpots starting at $10 million and potentially growing to $80 million. When the jackpot reaches $50 million, additional $1 million Maxmillions prizes are available. Conversely, Lotto 6/49 is drawn every Wednesday and Saturday, offering two chances to win: the Classic Draw with a fixed $5 million jackpot, and the Gold Ball Draw, with jackpots beginning at $10 million and rising as high as $68 million.

David Serkin’s journey from a $250,000 win over a decade ago to his current total of $2.5 million in less than a year is undeniably extraordinary. While he understands the improbability of repeating such success, Serkin remains committed to purchasing lottery tickets and enjoying the thrill that comes with them.

For those looking to take a break from gambling, self-exclusion programs can be effective resources available across Canada.