Summerland’s Anne Schmiedel won $1-million from a free play on the Dec. 15th Lotto 6/49. (Photo credit: BC Lotteries)

By Pete McIntyre

BC Lotteries

Okanagan woman wins $1-million lottery prize thanks to ‘free play’

Jan 17, 2022 | 2:30 PM

A free play paid off for an Okanagan resident.

Anne Schmiedel of Summerland couldn’t believe it after learning her free play for the Lotto 6/49 draw on December 15, 2021 resulted in her winning the $1-Million Guaranteed Prize.

“I got a free play from my [previous] ticket, and that free play was what actually won the million,” Schmiedel explained. “I wasn’t sure if it was real or not. My husband and I told one group of friends and they thought we were joking.”

Schmiedel purchased her ticket on PlayNow.com and was with her husband at home when she checked her e-mail and found that she had won.

“I was in my living room, and I saw in my e-mail that I won a prize. I thought ‘okay, it’s probably one dollar.’ I showed my husband, and we were checking the numbers. He said ‘no, those aren’t your numbers,’ but then he figured out the Guaranteed Prize and ours matched.”

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Schmiedel plans on sharing some of her winnings with family, donating some to charity, and saving for retirement.

In 2021, B.C. lottery players won more than $99 million playing Lotto 6/49.