• A man entrusted his girlfriend at the time with claiming a CA$5m jackpot
• The woman then "ghosted" the winner and took off with her new lover
• Both sides have given contradictory statements as to what the actual events are

A man who let his former partner pick up a CA$5m jackpot for him at the advice of Manitoba province lottery representatives in Canada has filed a lawsuit seeking full restitution of his winnings, which were allegedly misappropriated by one Krystal McKay, who claimed the original prize.

Man partner ghosts him after claiming CA$5m jackpot

The story has several saucy turns that piece together the unlikely chain of events that have grabbed media headlines. Lawrence Campbell of Winnipeg filed his complaint last Friday, May 23, seeking his money back from McKay, but also naming the Western Canada Lottery Corporation and Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries as defendants in the case.

Campbell alleged that it was under their bad advice that he agreed to transfer the ticket to his former partner. Campbell won on January 20, 2024, but was unable to claim the money because he lacked both a government-issued ID as well as a bank account.

Because of that, at the advice of the WCLC (his lawsuit alleges), Campbell agreed to let his girlfriend claim the win. The couple posed for a photo-op with the customary check at an official ceremony, and the lottery released a statement on January 30, 2024, in which it said that Campbell had bought McKay the ticket as her birthday gift.

This is not true, according to Campbell’s lawsuit, which argues that the ticket was his originally, and he had not gifted it to his girlfriend. He only agreed to let her claim the money because of his lack of the necessary paperwork.

Soon after McKay claimed the prize, she "ghosted" Campbell, who started looking for her, eventually finding her in bed with another man, the lawsuit added. The lawsuit described the ensuing events in rather vivid terms, too, with McKay described as saying, reportedly, that she "wanted to end things" and be with "that new guy."

A representative for Campbell said in a statement: "Mr. Campbell did not personally feel very good, as he slowly realized that the trust he had with all three defendants was misplaced and violated."

Incredulous story of love and money

Chad Panting, who represents Campbell, acknowledged that some parts of the story sounded incredulous, but were the truth all the same.

The lawsuit alleges that Campbell is the sole owner. His eventual acquiescence to transfer the powers to claim the prize was vested in McKay, a loving partner whom the plaintiff trusted, at the advice of the lottery, the complaint explained.

McKay is said to have requested and succeeded in securing a restrictive order against Campbell, whereas Campbell’s complaint is also seeking to bar McKay from spending any of the money she obtained from the lottery ticket.

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