This week Canada is bracing for the long-awaited launch of the new and improved version of the fan-favourite Lotto 6/49. The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation is also preparing for the big occasion and it has announced that it will be launching the new version on September 14, 2022, which will come with even bigger prizes but it will still cost CA$3 per ticket.
Lotto 6/49 has been one of the most popular draw-based games in Canada and it was first introduced back in 1982. Since its debut, the country-wide game has managed to generate more than CA$66 billion in sales, while awarding CA$33 billion in prizes with 1.6 billion total winners. However, the lotteries decided to game even more appealing.
Coming This Wednesday
Starting from September 14, 2022, Ontarians will have the ability to play the new and improved version of Lotto 6/49. Draws for the game will remain on Wednesdays and Saturdays, while there will be two multi-million dollar jackpots up for grabs for the same entry ticket of CA$3. However, the main draw will be renamed to the new Classic Draw, with a fixed jackpot of CA$5 million.
In addition to that Classic Draw, players will also play for the chance to win additional prizes for matching as few as two numbers on one entry. Meanwhile, the CA$1 million Guaranteed Prize Draw will transform into the Gold Ball Draw. The winner of this new jackpot will win either CA$1 million or a growing windfall that starts at CA$10 million and can reach CA$60 million.
However, before the start of the new version of the draw-based offering, OLG hosted a special draw on Saturday, September 10, 2022, to clear all jackpot prizes. This will enable a fresh start for the new version while also distributing accumulated money. The Crown has also informed that there will be no carryover from the September 10th draw to the first draw of the new product on September 14.
And similar to the previous rules of the game, the new one will also award a jackpot to any selection that matches all six main numbers on one line. However, for the first draw, if there is no winning 6/6 selection, the jackpot money will be divided among the winners of the 5/6+Bonus and the 4/6 prize brackets.
As already mentioned over the last three decades Lotto 6/49 has delivered many hefty cash prizes to Ontarian players. For instance, in January the OLG announced that a jackpot worth over CA$36.4 million was won in Barrie. This was the fourth time a multi-million-dollar lottery ticket has been assigned to Barrie in the last two years
Quebec Delays Introduction
However, not all Canadian provinces will be able to enjoy the new version of Lotto 6/49. Last week, Loto-Québec informed its public that it will be delaying the launch of the new product, due to the fact that its professional employees have gone on a general strike. In the meantime, the Crown is also suspending draws for the game after September 10 draw
Source: “Get Ready for the new Lotto 6/49! Two Multi-Million-Dollar Jackpots, Same $3 Price”, OLG, September 8, 2022
