Answers to the most common questions about Canadian lotteries — games, odds, prize claims, regional add-ons, and more. Jump to a category or browse all.
The guaranteed minimum jackpot is $10 million. It grows each draw it is not won and is capped at $90 million, with overflow going to MAXMILLIONS $1 million prizes.
MAXPLUS was introduced on April 14, 2026. Every Lotto Max draw includes MAXPLUS draws of $100,000 each — one for every million dollars in the jackpot (a $40 million jackpot means 40 MAXPLUS sets). Prizes are win-or-share and require an exact match of all 7 numbers; there are no subsidiary prizes. MAXMILLIONS ($1 million per set) still runs separately once the jackpot reaches $50 million.
You have 52 weeks (one year) from the draw date to claim a Lotto Max prize. Claim procedures vary by province — prizes over $1,000 typically require an in-person claim at the regional lottery office.
No. Lottery winnings from Canadian provincial lotteries are not taxed as income. However, any interest earned on the winnings after you deposit them is taxable.
The Gold Ball is a secondary jackpot drawn from one of the balls in the main draw. It starts at $1 million and grows by $1 million each draw until won, capped at $68 million. Every $3 ticket is automatically entered.
No. Canadian lottery winnings are not taxed as income, whether received as a lump sum or as annuity payments. Interest earned after the money is deposited is taxable.
The remaining balance up to the 20-year guarantee is paid to the winner's estate or designated beneficiary. Payments stop after the 20-year guarantee if the winner has already received it.
Encore is drawn on the same schedule as the main OLG game you attached it to. For Lotto Max that's Tuesday and Friday; for Lotto 6/49 that's Wednesday and Saturday.
BC Extra uses eight digits (four 2-digit pairs matched in any order), whereas Western Extra uses a single 7-digit number matched in exact order from the right.