Press release

The search for the new Bas-Saint-Laurent millionaire is over!

Montréal, October 22, 2026 — After a suspenseful month and a media advisory, the winner of the $5,000,000 Classic Jackpot with a Lotto 6/49 ticket purchased in Rimouski has finally appeared. Gino Gagné, a resident of the region, had no idea the prize was his. He heard through the media that a winner was being sought, and that’s when he checked his lottery tickets—only to discover that he was the winner! Gagné officially received his prize during an event at the Hôtel Rimouski on October 22.

“Loto-Québec has already crowned over 115 millionaires since the year began. It’s an incredible feeling to know that so many families across Québec, including here in Rimouski, enjoy these prizes. It’s one way Loto-Québec has a significant impact on the community. This summer alone, dozens of Quebecers shared prizes of $25M, $40M and $55M, becoming millionaires,” said Isabelle Jean, Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of Lottery Games at Loto-Québec.

An unusual hiding place

Gino Gagné generally collects a few lottery tickets before checking them. Last Sunday, he decided to check a stack of tickets, which included a Lotto 6/49 ticket for the September 23 draw. He immediately recognized the first three numbers of the winning combination on the Loto-Québec gaming website and called his spouse over to check the remaining numbers with her. “You seeing what I’m seeing?” he asked her. Yes, she was seeing the same thing. “I was bouncing off the walls!” he admitted. He took a picture of the ticket to capture the moment and told his spouse, “We’ll learn the numbers by heart!” Then, she quickly hid the precious ticket under a knick-knack until Gino could claim the prize.

A dream reborn

Thanks to this major windfall, the couple plans to pursue some projects dear to their hearts, starting with a return to their roots. Gagné, an industrial engineer by trade, owns a hobby farm where he used to raise animals. “Chickens, geese... All the animals were free to roam. I’d even built them a pond!” he recalled fondly. “I’ll make that dream come true again.” The winner also has another project in mind: adding a spacious garage to his property, complete with a wood-burning stove.

The winning ticket was purchased at the Super Sagamie Ultramar-Neigette convenience store at 101 Route des Pionniers in Rimouski. The retailer will receive a 1% commission of $50,000.

About Loto-Québec

Loto-Québec has been delivering entertainment to the people of Québec for over 55 years, and its operations benefit Québec as a whole. Last year, the corporation awarded a record $1.9 billion in prizes to winners and crowned 111 millionaires across Québec. It also paid out over 20 lifetime annuities. Major prize winners are listed on the Winners page in the Lotteries section of lotoquebec.com. Read about their dreams.

The responsible commercialization of lottery and gaming products is central to Loto-Québec’s operations. The corporation has been granted the highest internationally recognized certification in responsible gaming by the World Lottery Association.