Published on: November 25, 2025, 06:31h.

Updated on: November 25, 2025, 06:37h.

• Lotto ticket worth $1 million was redeemed last July
• Authorities claim the winnings were meant to be divided among three people
• A 70-year-old has been charged with theft and will appear in court in January

A man from Toronto, aged 70, faces theft charges for allegedly redeeming a million-dollar lottery ticket that was intended to be shared among three individuals.

As per the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Alex Parucha was charged following an inquiry into fraud and theft that revealed he claimed a $1 million Lotto Max Free Play ticket dated July 2, 2025, as the sole recipient.

Subsequently, he received payment from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG). However, a review by the OLG Forensic Investigation Unit suggested that the winnings might be part of a group agreement.

Charges of Fraud and Theft

The case was escalated to the OPP Investigation and Enforcement Bureau (IEB), associated with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), which oversees criminal and regulatory investigations to maintain safety and integrity in regulated sectors.

Investigators from the OPP IEB, aided by OLG, concluded in September that the ticket was indeed part of a group play deal. The winnings were supposed to be divided among three parties, rather than solely going to Parucha.

Parucha was subsequently arrested and faces charges including theft over $5,000, fraud over $5,000, and possession of property obtained through criminal activity.

Upcoming Court Hearing in January

Parucha has been released on bail and is set to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Toronto on January 8, 2026.

An OLG spokesperson remarked that the organization follows an extensive and transparent procedure for prize claims. “Due to the ongoing legal proceedings, we cannot disclose further details at this moment,” he stated.

An OPP spokesperson informed Casino.org that criminal charges could be brought up if there is clear evidence of an individual knowingly misrepresenting or hiding a group agreement to claim winnings solely for themselves.

Investigative Insights from OPP and OLG

This may pertain to a recognized group agreement where there is proof that multiple people contributed towards the ticket purchase, expecting that any winnings would be shared, or to deliberate exclusion or deceit where the accused intentionally blocked other group members from receiving their rightful portions.

The spokesperson further noted that it might also involve financial benefits via false representations resulting in the accused obtaining money they weren’t entitled to, classifying it as fraud or theft under the Criminal Code.