Best Online lotteries in Canada 2023/2024

In 1930, the international Irish Sweepstakes offered betting opportunities across the globe to raise hospital funds. However, betting was illegal at the time until an amendment to the Criminal code in 1969.

In 1968, the country began a voluntary tax, which involved selling tickets to individuals for a small sum for a chance to win a jackpot. By September, Quebec's Court of Appeals ruled the voluntary tax illegal.

Following an appeal to the Supreme Court, an amendment to the Criminal Code allowed provinces to govern lottery games.

Quebec quickly developed Lotto-Quebec, a corporation for administering the Lotto by 1970, following an intense interest in gambling from citizens. The corporation managed the Lottery formats, budgets, and administration, including weekly draws.

In 1974, Canada introduced a national lottery called Canada Olympic. Established to raise money to support the 1976 Olympics, tickets for the lottery cost buyers $10 and offered a $1 million grand prize. Nine women from Quebec City split the initial grand prize, leading to the establishment of Lotto-Canada.

Lotto-Canada became a successful fundraising source to pay national public works projects and future Olympic costs.

By 1985, the federal governments and provinces developed an agreement, which saw the federal government completely withdraw from lottery operations. However, by 2018, Canada's lotteries were run by five corporations, which make up the Interprovincial Corporation.

Beyond the lotteries, Canadian players also search for land-based and online casinos to bet. In 2018, changes to the gambling laws allowed Canadians to frequent foreign casino sites online without fear of prosecution. However, access to Canada's non-licensed online casinos is restricted.

In Canada, it's legal to purchase lottery tickets online and participate in lotteries managed by national bodies or provincial governance. Large corporations are managing enormous sums of money from lottery winnings - these governing bodies welcome participation in the lottery from Canadian citizens in-person and online.

A resident may access information online about their eligibility to participate in lotteries offered by national or local corporations. Canadian lottery laws apply only to current residents and immigrants. However, bettors from outside the country are welcome.

Canada even allows residents to purchase foreign lottery tickets. However, it's incumbent on the bettor to review the laws governing lotteries in the country the lottery is administered.

As Canadian's move toward online gambling, popular international games attract bettors from the nation. U.S. Megamillions and Powerball continue to draw Canadians who reside on the border and drive into America to buy tickets or purchase tickets on the internet.

Criminal Code

All games of chance in Canada are considered illegal. However, national and local governments may control and regulate gambling to generate revenue. The Criminal Code allows for exceptions, including licensed gambling and business promotions.

However, the code makes it illegal to cheat or violate government regulations. Canada's large gaming commissions, corporations, and agencies administer lottery gambling under very strict and detailed rules designed to offer a seamless and fair gambling experience.

Canadians gravitate to some of the larger national lottery games, which offer winners easy rules and large payouts. Here are a few lotteries offering a slim chance to win but significant payments for those who do hit the jackpot.

Daily Grand

A national lottery, the Daily Grand, is available to residents all over Canada. Bettors buy a Daily Grand ticket for an opportunity to win the $1,000 prize daily for life. Only $3 gives a player a chance to pick five numerals between 1 to 49, plus 1 numeral from 1 to 7, the Grand Number. Canadian Daily Grand winners receive more than $376,520.00 throughout the nation for one month.

Players may pick the numbers or buy the game's quick picks. Some choose the combination ticket option, which allows bettors to choose multiple combinations. Drawings take place every Thursday and Monday for the Daily Grind. The odds of winning are slim, with only 1 in approximately 13.34 million capturing the prize money.

Lotto Max

For $5, each Lotto Max player buys 3 number sets of 7 numerals. Players receive 21 total numbers for every ticket. The jackpot starts at $10 million and is capped at $60 million. Players who win receive a life-changing sum of money. In a month, winning distributed for Lotto Max have exceeded $77 million. The drawing is held weekly on Friday. Participants have a 1 in approximately 28 million shot of winning.

Lotto 6/49

Viewed as the most popular lottery in Canada, Lotto 6/49 has paid out the biggest jackpot in Canada's lottery history. Both payouts exceeded $60 million. Since 1982, Lotto 6/49 established itself by allowing Canadian bettors to pick their ticket numbers for the first time in the nation's lottery history.

The lottery has paid out a whopping nearly $7 million over a month, a large amount for lotteries in the region. Players pick six numerals between 1 to 49 to take a chance at the jackpot, which starts at $5 million and continues to grow until someone wins.

There's also a $1 million pool, including a second set of 10-digits that players choose. Drawings for the jackpot and the pool take place on Saturday and Wednesday.

With cutting-edge technology changing the way Canadians pay for goods, mobile payment systems offer local retailers a fast way to checkout. For lottery ticket buyers, this is a popular way to pay. Depending on the application the buyer uses to facilitate mobile payment, a consumer may complete the lottery ticket purchase in a matter of seconds.

Canada's lottery system has come a long way since its inception. For Canadian citizens, the country offers both national and provincial lotteries. This means that Canadian punters have a long list of legal options to choose from.

The best part about lottery gaming to Canadian players is that the space is regulated and the proceeds from these lotteries are shared by national and local governments who work collaboratively to fund public and cultural projects.