After a short delay in the launch of Lotto 6/49, Loto-Québec has now continued activities for the popular nationwide game. On Monday, September 19, 2022, the Crown agency announced that it will be renewing activities for the game after the launch of the new and enhanced version was delayed due to a general strike from the company’s professional workers.
The new version of Lotto 6/49 was launched last week on Wednesday, September 14, 2022, and all of the provincial lotteries started offering it. However, this was not the case for Loto-Québec, which due to a general strike from its professional staff had to delay it. Last week, the union representing the staff agreed to a new collective agreement in principle, which allowed them to go back to work.
The New Lotto 6/49 is Here
On Monday, the Crown corporation made the announcement that Lotto 6/49 is again on sale across the province. And that the next draw for the popular game will take place on Wednesday, September 21, 2022. In addition to that, the Crown also revealed that ticket verification for previous draws of the game is once again possible.
The new version of the game comes with two multi-million-dollar jackpots at each round, while entry prices still remain CA$3 per ticket. Starting from now, the two main prizes will be known as the Classic Draw and the Golden Ball Draw, which replaced the previous CA$1 million guaranteed draw. While the Classic Draw is the previous main draw for the game.
The Classic Draw is the draw that players of the game are already familiar with, as six numbers from 1 to 49 are drawn as the winning ones. Each draw will come with a CA$5 million jackpot for it and tons of secondary windfalls. While The Golden Ball Draw replaces the current guaranteed prize and it will again award a cash prize to one winner with a unique number on their ticket.
The winning amount for the Golden Ball Grand Prize Draw will be determined by a sequence of draws. One ball will be drawn from 29 white balls, and each will be worth CA$1 million, while there will also be a golden ball, which will be worth CA$10 million. If the winner wins a white ball, they will get CA$1 million, and if they receive a golden ball, they will win CA$10 million.
Contract Situation
Loto-Québec is able to renew its normal operations, after last week it announced that an agreement in principle has been struck with the protesting 455 professional employees. The agreement has been accepted by the the independent Syndicat des professionnels du gouvernement du Québec and it will be soon presented to the unionized staff who will vote on whether to accept it or not.
Meanwhile, the Crown corporation has another situation on its hands as croupiers from its Casino Montréal are also out on strike. The Crown even issued a statement saying Montreal croupiers have the best benefits and conditions in the casino industry, and that the employer has already offered them improved terms in the new collective agreement, however, they were not accepted by the staff.
Source: “The new Lotto 6/49 now available in Quebec” Loto-Québec, September 19, 2022
