Lotto Max is Canada's biggest national lottery. If you've never played, this guide walks you through everything from buying your first ticket to understanding the prize tiers.
The basics
You pick 7 numbers between 1 and 50. A single $5 play gets you three lines — one you choose (or Quick Pick) and two random Quick Picks. Match all 7 to win the jackpot. Draws happen Tuesday and Friday nights.
How much does a ticket cost?
$5 per play. You can add Extra ($1) for separate prizes up to $250,000, and Encore ($1) for a chance at $1M.
The prize tiers
- 7/7 — Jackpot (starts at $10M, caps at $80M)
- 6/7 + Bonus — Major prize, often six figures
- 6/7 — Mid-tier prize
- 5/7 + Bonus — Smaller prize
- 5/7, 4/7, 3/7 + Bonus, 3/7 — Small prizes and free plays
Maxmillions
When the main jackpot hits $50M, additional $1M Maxmillions draws are added. Each is a separate draw — you can win one Maxmillion, several, or the main jackpot.
Where to buy
Tickets are sold by your provincial lottery: OLG (Ontario), Loto-Québec, BCLC (BC), WCLC (Prairies & territories), and ALC (Atlantic). Buy at a retailer or through your province's official app or website. You must be of legal age in your province (18 or 19).
How to pick numbers
Three popular approaches:
- Quick Pick — the terminal picks for you. Pure random, no thought required.
- Personal numbers — birthdays, anniversaries, lucky digits. Fun, but heavy on 1–31.
- Strategy tools — frequency, numerology, or a hybrid like Lotto Terminal's lucky number generator.
After the draw
Check results on our winning numbers page or your provincial lottery's site. Small prizes can be claimed at any retailer; large prizes are claimed at a provincial prize centre.
Play responsibly
Set a budget you'd happily spend on entertainment, never chase losses, and see our responsible gaming resources if play stops being fun.