Woman wins $1M, chooses $1,000 per week for a lifetime

• Québec woman Maria Caroli won CA$1 million on a "Gagnant à vie" scratch ticket but chose a CA$1,000-per-week payout for life instead of the lump sum
• The decision is notable because lottery winnings in Canada are tax-free, meaning Caroli could have taken the full amount without deductions
• Her choice has sparked online debate, with critics questioning the financial logic, while supporters point to the guaranteed CA$52,000 annual income for life

Look at most lottery stories out there, especially those involving someone winning seven figures, and you can rest assured that even if the winners’ identities are not always revealed, they almost always opt for the lump-sum payment.

Woman wins $1M scratch-off lottery prize - opts for $1,000 per week

After all, why not scoop the juice prize right away, even if they often have to pay slightly steeper taxes? Nevermind having to manage all this money. This is why the story of a woman from Québec who won CA$1,000,000 but opted for the CA$1,000 weekly payment for life is a fresh change of tack.

With 52 weeks a year, the winner, Maria Caroli, is looking at CA$52,000 passive income annually, thanks to securing the winning scratch-off ticket from "Gagnant à vie," French for "Winner for life."

What is even more interesting still, though, is that the woman, who is based in Laval, could have opted for the full sum without the need to concede any money back to the government - the country does not tax lottery winnings.

Therefore, Caroli’s decision piques the interest of lottery enthusiasts. Caroli, who posed for the customary photo-op, did not reveal her age, but she appeared advanced in years.

People argue non-lump sum options should be "illegal"

Caroli played the "Winner for life" game just before Christmas. The ticket had been a gift from her partner, and she didn’t even realize she had won. She had left the ticket at home when her partner phoned her in and told her she had won the $1,000,000 prize from Lotto-Québec.

"I left work at noon, I was so excited," Caroli added. Caroli’s decision has drawn some criticism, with people arguing on social media that the decision to opt for the weekly payments over the lump sum is "financially illiterate" and some argued that it’s "so bad" that it should be "illegal."

Whatever detractors may say, the fact remains that Caroli is going to be CA$52,000 richer next year, and she would not have to do anything to earn it.

Image credit: Quebec-Lottery