I won a $1m lotto prize but was left with only $97 after blowing it on partying – I wish I never even bought the ticket
A BITTER lottery winner who lost his entire $1 million prize-money wishes he’d never bought the ticket.
Collin McLeod has advised other winners to “give the money back as it’s not worth the trouble” after being left with just $97.
The former health and safety worker scooped $1 million in the Lotto Max Maxmillion draw in December 2018.
The lucky ex-law clerk also won a free ticket because of his success in the draw six years ago – which turned into a further win, giving him an additional $1,700.
But he admitted to losing part of his fortune on partying and buying drugs in Canada.
McLeod has also alleged that various friends took money and possessions while he was imprisoned on a drug charge.
“I wish I never won the money, because I had money before I went to jail, and once it’s [the lottery win] in the paper, everyone knows,” he said on Monday.
“I made a lots of mistakes, I f***ed up, but I’m the first to admit it – I don’t do drugs anymore.
“I was happy in my life; I was set up for retiring, now I have nothing.
“If you win the lottery, my advice is to give the money back as it’s not worth the trouble, unless you have good family support, and good financial advice – don’t expect help from the government and the police.
“Don’t trust anybody but yourself.”
McLeod is now struggling with major health problems amid his lottery money woes.
“I can’t walk without losing breath as I have COPD,” he said.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an incurable lung disease causing restricted airflow and breathing problems.
The most common symptoms are difficulty breathing, chronic cough, and feeling tired, according to the World Health Organization.
I was happy in my life; I was set up for retiring, now I have nothing.
Collin McLeod
“I can’t drive and I need a scooter from the government because I can’t walk far – I’m going through the legal paperwork [for the scooter] at the moment,” said McLeod.
Aside from his declining health, a lengthy history of driving offenses means he has a lifetime ban from driving – hence the need for a scooter.
GRILLED OVER TICKET
McLeod, now aged 63 and living in Smithville, recalled the moment he collected his prize money six years ago from OLG, Ontario’s government agency in charge of gaming.
“I was working, and I already had money when I won, as I inherited from my dad,” he said.
“It took a week to go and claim the lottery money, because it was a pain in the a***.
“You have to sit [with the officials] for five or six hours while they interview you.
“They use in-store surveillance footage to check you are the person who actually bought the ticket in the first place.
“They want to know if you had any partners buying the ticket – they also asked, where did I buy the ticket, why I was at that location.
“They questioned me in a VIP room before giving me a check.
“They authorized the check, and issued it, so I was physically given the check, and their publicity took pictures.
“I said I didn’t want anything about it in the paper, because people would know I won, because I already had [inheritance] money, after my dad died.”
GOOD JOB
At first, he didn’t care about his winnings.
“I didn’t bank the check for a whole week, because I didn’t really need the money,” he added.
“I had a good job as a health and safety officer, and I also had a savings account and money from the inheritance from my father.
“I had no immediate plans for the $1 million.
“But once news got out about my win, I was contacted by friends I didn’t even know I had!
“They wanted to have money for insurance and other costs.”
LOTTERY 'CURSES'
Shocking events to follow huge wins in the US...
Buried in yard: In 2009, Abraham Shakespeare won $30 million on the lottery in Florida.
Months after winning, he was shot dead with his body turning up in early 2010 buried in a yard under a slab of cement.
DeeDee Moore was later accused of befriending Abraham following his win before stealing his winnings and killing him.
Moore was was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of his murder.
Kidnapped and shot: Jeffrey Dampier won $20 million in 1996 after playing the Illinois lottery. Nine years later, he was kidnapped and shot dead. His wife Crystal said of the lottery: “It’s a curse.”
Divorce after 20 years: In 2004, Juan Rodriguez won $149 million on the Mega Millions.
The bankrupt parking attendant had recently split from his wife of 20 years when he scooped the jackpot.
They reunited after his win – but split again 10 days later when his wife filed for divorce.
Lost it all: Convenience store worker Evelyn Adams, from New Jersey, won two different multi-million jackpots in the span of just four months.
She scooped $5.4million after hitting the jackpot twice but lost it all when her winnings streaks turned into a serious gambling addiction.
Adams scored $3.9million in October 1985 and another $1.4million in February of 1986, making her the first person in the history of the New Jersey Lottery to win multiple million-dollar jackpot prizes.
By 2012 Adams had spent her winnings, having lost her money to gambling in slot machines Atlantic City casinos and a string of unsuccessful business deals.
“Winning the lottery isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be,” she said.
McLeod said he had decided against sharing any prize-money with his children in 2018.
“I told my kids to get a job – as I was still working.”
McLeod also spoke of his many regrets since winning and becoming an instant millionaire – and then losing all of his cash, possessions and tens of thousands in cryptocurrency.
If you win the lottery, my advice is to give the money back as it’s not worth the trouble.
Collin McLeod
Troubled McLeod spent time in custody on a drug charge at the Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre in Canada.
When he emerged from that center, following five months behind bars, all of his money had “gone.”
“I’m devastated,” he said of his financial losses.
DAD’S ASHES MISSING
“I had nothing when I came out; my daughter had to buy some underwear for me, my apartment was empty – they even took my dad’s ashes.
“They completely took everything I own.”
He claimed that he had “tried investing” his winnings through friends prior to be taken into custody.
“And when I went to jail, they [pals] had access to my bank accounts,” he alleged.
“The bank says they won’t pay me back, as I contacted them after the 90-day complaint period – but I was in jail for more than 90 days, so didn’t know the money was missing.
“My lawyer says that’s not right, because they can’t do that when you’re in jail. But the bank doesn’t care.
“When I came out of jail, I didn’t even have a pair of underwear.
$97 IN ACCOUNT
“My dad’s ashes were gone; they [friends] were going through my things and putting them on [Facebook] Marketplace, and selling things.
“They stole about $150,000 worth of belongings, including my motorhome and Mercedes, worth $50,000.
“When I left jail, one guy picked me up and told me that everything was gone.
“I had $97 in my personal bank account, and there had been $38,000 in there before I went to jail.”
POLICE PROBE
No one has been charged in relation to the alleged thefts, with police saying they can’t comment on a current investigation.
But, Hamilton police has confirmed that the force continues to probe his claims that various pals allegedly stole money, along with various possessions, including his Mercedes, motorhome and his dad’s ashes.
Det. Const. Kenneth Kirkpatrick noted that the alleged cryptocurrency thefts are complex to probe.
“The investigation remains ongoing,” a spokesman confirmed to The U.S. Sun.
While awaiting news of the force’s investigation, McLeod has until recently been under house arrest in Smithville.
In January this year, he was convicted after pleading guilty to a single count of possession of ecstasy for the purpose of trafficking in 2021, reported The Hamilton Spectator in May.
“I’m no longer under house arrest,” he told The U.S. Sun.
“I pleaded guilty to get it over with as I was on bail for four years, so got six months’ house arrest.
“My house arrest ended last week.
“I can’t celebrate as I don’t have money, I’m struggling to even afford medication.
“No one is going to hire me, as I’m 63 years old and I also have heart problems.
“I have no support other than my brother.
“I can’t leave the house, it’s too hot, I have to get my brother to get the groceries.
“I wish I never won the money.”