Canadian players are lucky beggars – they have three national lotteries to play: Lotto 6/49, Daily Grand, and Lotto Max. All of those games are administered by the ILC (Interprovincial Lottery Corporation). Lotto 6 49 is the most popular among Canadian national lottery games. It has been working since June 12, 1982. It even has regional clones like Western 6/49, Ontario 49, Quebec 49, and Atlantic 49, which have the same with 6 49 draw days and have similar payouts except for fixed jackpots of $2,000,000 (in the context of Atlantic 49 – $1,000,000 ).
Also, it should be mentioned that selection slips of Lotto 6.49 provide gamers with the unique ability to choose between the regional game and Lotto 6/49 or even play both of them using the same numbers. And there are many other reasons why Lotto 6/49 is the favorite one among Canadian players.
Lotto 6 49 gameplay and history
As can be easily guessed from the name of the lottery, there is a set of forty-nine numbers on the ticket and a set of six drawn numbers. A ticket wins the jackpot if a ticket matches all six numbers. Lotto 6/49 takes action twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
The jackpot at Lotto 6/49 is huge, at least $5,000,000. Also, players have a chance to win a “second prize,” which is volatile between $500,000 and $100,000. A key to the second prize is a bonus number which is also drawn. The player needs to get a match of five ticket numbers and the bonus number to win the above-mentioned “second prize.” In case when more than one player wins top prizes – the winnings will be split amongst those fortunate souls. Lesser prizes also exist in Lotto 6.49 – they are awarded for at least two numbers per set. If the jackpot is not played it will be increased for the next draw.
The number of “lines” (sets of numbers) on one ticket varies according to the jurisdiction of the province. For example, in such territories and provinces as Nunavut, Alberta, Manitoba, Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Saskatchewan, no more than six lines on one ticket are allowed because of the Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC) rules.
The original price of the tickets at Lotto 6/49 used to be $1 per line. But in June 2004, it was raised to $2 per line to provide players with more lavish jackpots. And the minimum amount of the jackpot was also increased to $3 million from the usual $3 million. And the last raise was made on September 18, 2013, when the ticket price raised to $3 per line. There were also such innovations as an awarded free ticket for the following game for two matching numbers, and the minimum jackpot was increased from $3 to $5 million. Along with that, a new “guaranteed prize draw” was implemented in the lottery. It was in the form of a guaranteed $1 million awarded per drawing.
On May 14, 2019, Lotto 6/49 was switched from using a lottery machine to the modern random number generator.
But these changes were not the last. The format of the Lottery is going to be grossly changed starting on September 14, 2022. It was resolved to add some novelty to the game to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Lotto 6/49. Under the new rules, there will be two parts to each drawing, “Gold Ball Draw” and “Classic Draw.” The jackpot will be available for winning only in the “Gold Ball Draw.” The prize of the Gold Ball Draw will be determined by a random blind selection from thirty possibilities, one of which is the “Gold Ball.” In case the “Gold Ball” is not selected during the draw – the winner is prized with $1 million. If the Gold Ball is selected, the jackpot will be awarded to the winner. Also, according to the new rules, the amount of the jackpot will be specified by the ILC. The Classic Draw of six numbers from 1 to 49 will be unchanged, but its jackpot will be fixed – $5 million.
Lotto 6/49 popularity
First of all, Lotto 6/49 is popular for its life-changing jackpots. The largest one was $64 million. The second largest was $63.4 million and the third $54.3 million.
Lotto 6/49 tickets are available online. And besides that, it has an insane widespread availability, every chain store like Real Canadian Superstore, Loblaw’s, Longas, Canadian Tire, Future Shop, Mac’s Convenience Stores, Super C, and even convenience stores are selling its tickets. Lotto 6/49 winning numbers are also easy to find online at many websites. So, if you are interested in the information provided by the officials, Loto Quebec is ready for your service.
The other reason for the Lotto 6/49 popularity is that it is exciting and a kind of gambling, but it seems to require less anxiety. Lotteries differ from online gambling. Lottery players compete with other players, the operator isn’t involved in that competition, and the prize fund is set in advance. While in the sphere of online gambling exists competition between the gambling operator and the player because the operator has an interest in players’ losses.
Lotto 6/49 has been incredibly popular for 40 years. It’s safe to say this lottery will continue to be a Canadian favourite over a number of years.