Canadian Lotto 6/49

How the Game Works

Lotto 6/49 is a straightforward draw game. You select 6 numbers between 1 and 49. The lottery machine draws 6 winning numbers plus one bonus number (sometimes called the supplementary ball). Your ticket wins a prize if your numbers match the drawn numbers in any combination.

Draws take place Wednesday and Saturday at 10:30 PM ET, plus a midweek draw on Tuesday at 10:30 PM ET as of recent years. Check the official schedule before play, as draw times can change.

The bonus number matters for the second prize tier. If you match 5 of the 6 main numbers plus the bonus, you move into a higher prize category than if you match 5 main numbers without the bonus.

Prize Structure and Odds

Lotto 6/49 has six prize tiers. The structure works like this:

Prize 1 (Division 1): Match all 6 numbers. This is the jackpot. No fixed amount; the prize grows with ticket sales and rollovers.

Prize 2 (Division 2): Match 5 numbers plus the bonus ball.

Prize 3 (Division 3): Match 5 numbers without the bonus.

Prize 4 (Division 4): Match 4 numbers plus the bonus ball.

Prize 5 (Division 5): Match 4 numbers without the bonus.

Prize 6 (Division 6): Match 3 numbers plus the bonus ball.

The overall odds of winning any prize in Lotto 6/49 are roughly 1 in 6.6. The odds of winning the jackpot (matching all 6) are 1 in 13,983,816. Mid-tier prizes have better odds but smaller payouts. The two lowest tiers (matching 3 or 4 numbers) return roughly 50 cents on the dollar across all players combined, which reflects the cost-per-ticket and payout structure.

Prize amounts for divisions 2 through 6 are fixed percentages of the prize pool, not fixed dollar amounts. The jackpot is whatever remains after fixed prizes are paid.

History and Regulation

Lotto 6/49 launched in 1982 as Canada's first national lottery game. Loto-Québec, a Crown corporation, operates it on behalf of all Canadian provincial and territorial lotteries. The game is regulated under the National Lottery Scheme, which governs how lottery proceeds are managed and where money goes.

Prize money comes from ticket sales. Typically, 50% to 55% of revenue returns to players as prizes. The remainder funds government programs, retailers, and lottery operations. Tax treatment of lottery winnings varies by province; in most Canadian jurisdictions, lottery wins are not subject to income tax, though Alberta and some others have specific rules. Always confirm your province's treatment before claiming a large prize.

Expected Value and Syndicate Math

Lotto 6/49 has a negative expected value for individual players, meaning the average ticket costs more than the long-term payout. Buying a $3 ticket returns roughly $1.50 to $1.65 in prizes over infinite plays. This is normal for government lotteries and reflects the revenue model.

Syndicates (group plays) do not improve expected value. They split the cost and the prize equally among members. What they do change is variance. A 10-person syndicate buying 10 tickets per draw costs each member less per week but also divides any jackpot prize by 10. Syndicates reduce the cost of entry and the emotional swing of a loss, but the math of the game remains the same.

The bonus ball mechanic increases the number of possible prize combinations. Instead of one way to match 5 (the 5 main numbers), there are now two ways: 5 main without the bonus (lower prize) and 5 main with the bonus (higher prize). This spreads the prize pool across more tiers.

Draw Schedule and Ticket Timing

Draws happen 3 times per week: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday evenings at 10:30 PM ET. Ticket sales close before each draw; check your retailer or online for the exact cutoff time in your province (usually 10:15 PM ET, but this varies).

Results are published immediately after the draw on the official lottery website and announced through retail channels. If you win, you have a period to claim your prize, typically up to one year from the draw date, though this varies by province.