What Is Lotto 6/49?
Lotto 6/49 is Canada's original national lottery game, launched on June 12, 1982. It was the first Canadian lottery to let players choose their own numbers. Today it remains one of the most popular lottery games in the country, operated jointly by the five regional lottery corporations: OLG (Ontario), Loto-Québec, Atlantic Lottery, WCLC (Western Canada), and BCLC (British Columbia).
In September 2022, Lotto 6/49 was significantly updated with the addition of the Gold Ball jackpot draw, creating two ways to win multi-million dollar prizes in every draw.
How the Draw Works
Each Lotto 6/49 draw consists of two separate draws:
Classic Draw: Six numbers are drawn from a pool of 1 to 49, plus a separate bonus number. The Classic Draw jackpot is always $5 million. Players win by matching their selected numbers to the drawn numbers, with prizes for matching as few as two numbers.
Gold Ball Draw: A guaranteed prize of at least $1 million is awarded to one ticket holder every draw. The Gold Ball jackpot starts at $10 million and grows by $2 million each draw until the gold ball is selected. If 29 consecutive draws pass without the gold ball appearing, the jackpot exceeds $60 million and must be won on the 30th draw.
How to Buy a Ticket
You can purchase Lotto 6/49 tickets in several ways across Canada:
In-store: Visit any authorized lottery retailer. Select 6 numbers from 1 to 49 on a selection slip, or ask for a Quick Pick to have numbers randomly generated. Each play costs $3.
Online: Purchase through your regional lottery corporation's website or app — PlayNow.com (BC), OLG.ca (Ontario), Espacejeux.com (Québec), ALC.ca (Atlantic), or the WCLC Lotto Spot app (Western Canada).
Subscription: Set up automatic ticket purchases so you never miss a draw. Available through most regional lottery websites.
You must be at least 18 or 19 years old to purchase lottery tickets, depending on your province.
Draw Schedule
Lotto 6/49 draws take place twice per week: every Wednesday and Saturday evening at approximately 10:30 PM Eastern Time. Results are typically available within minutes after the draw on official lottery websites and on DrawInsights.
Prize Tiers
The Classic Draw offers seven prize categories based on how many of your selected numbers match:
| Match | Approximate Prize | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 6/6 (Jackpot) | $5,000,000 | 1 in 13,983,816 |
| 5/6 + Bonus | ~$100,000 | 1 in 2,330,636 |
| 5/6 | ~$2,500 | 1 in 55,492 |
| 4/6 | ~$80 | 1 in 1,033 |
| 3/6 | $10 | 1 in 56.7 |
| 2/6 + Bonus | $5 | 1 in 81.2 |
| 2/6 | Free Play | 1 in 8.3 |
The overall odds of winning any prize are approximately 1 in 6.6. See the full odds breakdown →
Tips for New Players
Sign your ticket: Always sign the back of a physical ticket immediately after purchase. This establishes ownership.
Check results promptly: Prizes must be claimed within one year of the draw date. Don't let a winning ticket expire.
Consider Advance Play: You can purchase tickets for multiple future draws at once — up to 26 consecutive draws in some provinces.
Set a budget: Play for entertainment. Set a weekly or monthly lottery budget that you're comfortable spending regardless of outcomes.
Explore the data: Use our statistics and hot numbers pages to explore historical patterns, or try our Smart Generator for statistically-informed picks.
Taxes on Winnings
In Canada, lottery winnings are not considered taxable income. You receive the full amount of any prize. However, any investment income earned on your winnings (interest, dividends, capital gains) is taxable. Large prize winners should consider consulting a financial advisor.