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General
About the Games
General
Buying Tickets
Q: What time do I have to purchase my ticket by for tonight’s draw?
A: The purchase cut-off time is 7:30 pm PT/8:30 pm MT/9:30 pm CT the evening of the draw for DAILY GRAND, LOTTO MAX, LOTTO 6/49, WESTERN 649, WESTERN MAX and PICK tickets.
Q: Can I buy WCLC lottery products over the Internet?
A: This website is intended as an information resource for our players; it is not a transactional site. In Manitoba only, LOTTO MAX, LOTTO 6/49, WESTERN MAX and WESTERN 649 can be purchased online at PlayNow.com. Lottery players may also
Play by Subscription to never miss a draw.
Q: Should I print my name on my tickets after I buy them?
A: Yes. Printing your legal name on the ticket ensures that no one else can claim any major prize if the ticket is lost or stolen. This also makes it easier when you take your tickets to be checked, as lottery retailers cannot validate tickets without the customer’s name printed on the ticket.
Q: I bought a LOTTO 6/49 ticket from another lottery region. When I try to cash them here, the terminals won't validate them. Why?
A: DAILY GRAND, LOTTO 6/49 and LOTTO MAX are national lottery games and are played in the five different regions across Canada. Each region maintains its own computer system, so Ticket Terminals can only verify tickets purchased in their own region. To claim a prize on a ticket purchased elsewhere, you can either return to the region where you bought the ticket, or you can mail it to the address on the back of the ticket. Make sure your name and return address are clearly printed in the Claim Form.
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Checking and Protecting Your Tickets
Q. What should I do if I discover a prize worth more than $1,000 in the evening or on the weekend, when prize offices are closed? How can I protect my ticket?
A: If you haven’t already, print your legal name, address and daytime telephone number on the back of your winning ticket. This prevents anyone else from claiming the prize, as all players who claim a prize through a Prize Payout Office must present identification. Any changes to the information on the back of the ticket have to be investigated before the prize can be paid. Also make sure any large winning tickets are kept in a safe place until you can collect the prize. To make prize claim arrangements, call Player Care at 1-800-665-3313 during regular business hours.
Q: What do I do if I have a problem checking my ticket at the store?
A: If you experience any difficulty while checking your tickets, or have any concerns about a lottery retailer, you can contact us via
email or by phone at 1-800-665-3313, and follow the directions to speak with Player Care. Please have ready as much detail about the incident as possible.
Q. When I check the winning numbers on the website, it just shows the province where the prize was won. Why don’t you show the specific location?
A. In WCLC’s jurisdiction, prize wins are listed by province (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta) or Territory (Nunavut, Yukon, Northwest Territories) when the winning ticket was sold outside of a major city. When it is sold within a major city, (Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Calgary, Yellowknife, and Whitehorse) then we list the city name. If there is more than one winning ticket purchased in any location, the number of winning tickets appears beside that location (ie. Edmonton *2*).
Because verifying the Retail location is part of the security procedure we use to confirm that a ticket presented is indeed a winning ticket, more specific information about where a winning ticket is sold cannot be released until the prize is claimed.
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Claiming a Prize
Q: I’ve won a prize – how can I claim my money?
A: Congratulations! For claim instructions, please call Player Care at 1-800-665-3313 during regular business hours. More prize claim information can also be found here: Claiming a Prize
If you purchased your tickets in Manitoba through PlayNow.com, you will receive an email notification with instructions on how to claim your prize.
Q: If I win a major prize, do I need to have my picture taken?
A: Yes. Under WCLC Rules and Regulations, the Corporation has no obligation to pay a prize unless the winner gives WCLC the right to publish the winner's name, city or town of residence and recent photograph. Names and photographs of major lottery winners are publicized to protect the integrity of the games – it verifies that prizes are won and shows that winners come from every walk of life.
Q: I purchased a ticket while visiting the Prairies and Territories. How do I claim my prize?
A: You can claim your prize by mailing your ticket to:
Western Canada Lottery Corporation, Prize Payout Main Floor, 125 Garry Street Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 4J1
Be sure to clearly print your legal name, address and a daytime phone number of the back of any tickets you are sending. Depending on the amount won, you may wish to send your ticket by registered mail. A winner's interview and photo are required for all claims of $10,000 or more.
Q: Are lottery winnings taxable?
A: No. All cash and merchandise prizes paid by WCLC are tax-free within Canada. However, prizes with an annuity option may have tax implications if the annuity is selected.
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Expiry Dates
Q: I found a LOTTO 6/49 ticket in my junk drawer that is over a year old. Can I still claim a prize?
A: No. All lottery tickets have specific expiry dates and no prizes can be paid after that time.
DAILY GRAND, LOTTO MAX, LOTTO 6/49, WESTERN 649, WESTERN MAX, POKER LOTTO, EXTRA, KENO, PICK 2, PICK 3 and PICK 4 tickets expire one year from the draw date.
SPORT SELECT ticket holders have one year from the date the last selected game was played to claim any prizes.
Zing (SCRATCH 'N WIN) tickets have an expiry date printed on the back of the ticket.
Q: What happens with lottery prize money that is not claimed?
A: Unclaimed prizes on national games are returned to players through guaranteed Jackpots and Bonus draws. Unclaimed prizes on regional games are returned to the member provinces and territories as revenue.
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Where Does the Money Go?
Q: Where does the money go?
A: Of every dollar spent on tickets, approximately 52.1 percent goes back to players in the form of prizes. Lottery retail commissions are approximately 7.0 percent of sales. Western Canada Lottery Corporation operating expenses are approximately 6.8 percent of sales with ticket printing accounting for an additional 1.0 percent. The remaining 33.1 percent is revenue returned to WCLC's members - the governments of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba and associate members Yukon Territory, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Revenue is based on sales from each member province or territory. Each provincial and territorial government establishes its own priorities for disbursement of lottery funds.
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Group Play
Q: Do you have a form for lottery groups?
A: Yes. WCLC provides a Group Buying Agreement (GBA) as a way to help lottery groups coordinate who is participating. You can find an electronic copy of the GBA on the
Forms & Publications page. Your group can also create its own form. For more details, visit
Group Play. Such a form will not eliminate all risks of dispute, but it certainly may reduce them
Q: Does WCLC require a copy of our Group Buying Agreement?
A: No. Unless a group is claiming a lottery prize from a Prize Payout Office, the GBA is for the group's own records and does not have to be registered with WCLC.
Q: What name or names should we print on the back of our group tickets?
A: We suggest that the group Trustee (administrator) print or legibly sign his or her name on the back of the ticket after purchase and then write the words “In Trust” after the name. This indicates the ticket is a group ticket.
Q: When I have our group’s tickets checked at Retail, what do I get back from the Retailer to show my group members?
A: Any winning tickets that the retailer pays a prize on are handled under a ‘Tear & Return’ policy. Therefore, we suggest groups provide photocopies of their tickets (with the bar code blacked out) to give to each member prior to the draw. However, all non-winning tickets and Validation Slips are to be returned to the player in one piece.
Q: If our lottery group does win a major prize, how are the cheques distributed?
A: For any winning ticket, only one prize cheque can be issued - to a maximum of two people. If there are multiple holders of a winning ticket – as with a group win - WCLC pays the complete prize to the individual designated by the group as its Trustee. The Trustee would then disburse it to the remainder of the group
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Lottery Scams
Q: I received an email/letter/phone call from Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC) saying that my name was selected and I won a lottery prize. I can claim the prize if I send the necessary payment for the taxes and/or service charges associated with the prize. Is this legitimate?
A: The notification you received was not from WCLC and we can assure you that you have not won a prize from WCLC. We do not charge taxes or service fees on any of our games. To win a prize on our games players must first purchase a ticket while in our jurisdiction.
A number of these solicitations (scams) unfortunately occur from time to time and they often use logos or names of WCLC and other companies. Please do not – under any circumstances – provide funds or personal information to the person who contacted you.
Visit WCLC's Identifying Lottery Scams page for more information.
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MVP Service
Q. What are the benefits of MVP Service?
A: When you sign up for MVP Service, you can choose to receive emails letting you know the winning DAILY GRAND, LOTTO MAX and WESTERN MAX, and/or LOTTO 6/49 and WESTERN 649 numbers on the night of the draw, as well as alerts about the upcoming LOTTO MAX and LOTTO 6/49 jackpot amounts.
You also have the option of receiving email notifications about special offers and promotions
Q. When I try to sign up for MVP Service, why do I see a message that says “email address is already in use"?
A: This message means that you or someone else in your household has already registered using that email address. Any email address can only be used to create one player profile. If two people usually share the same email, and both wish to create a player profile, one will have to use a different email address. If you have forgotten the password for that email address by going to the Forgot Login section.
QQ. Is the personal information I enter to register for MVP Service protected?
A: Yes. The MVP Service portion of our website is SSL Secured using 128-bit encryption. All information collected on the site is used for the purposes agreed to by the user, and the information collected will not be used for any other purposes, and WCLC does not share, sell or transfer personal information that it collects to unaffiliated third parties for their own marketing efforts. Read more about
WCLC’s Privacy Policy.
Q. What can I do if I no longer want to receive emails from MVP Service or if I’m going away for awhile on holidays?
A: If you wish to make changes to your account and stop receiving winning numbers, Jackpot Alerts and other notifications, simply login to your account and choose to edit your Email Preferences. For each game, uncheck the box beside Winning Numbers and set Jackpot Alerts to "No thanks", then click Save for your changes to take effect. When you want to start receiving alerts again, log back in and update your Email Preferences again.
If you no longer want to be registered, simply click on unsubscribe to delete your account.
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About the Games:
Draws and Jackpots
Q: What time are the draws held?
A: All draws take place shortly after the ticket purchase cut-off time of 7:30 pm PT/8:30 pm MT/9:30 pm CT the evening of the draw.
Q: Where do the draws take place?
A: Draws for national games like DAILY GRAND, LOTTO 6/49 and LOTTO MAX take place in a secure location in Toronto, Ontario, and are conducted by Interprovincial Lottery Corporation (ILC) under the management of its members, the five Canadian lottery regions.
Draws for regional games - including WESTERN 649, WESTERN MAX and PICK - are conducted by WCLC in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Q: How do the draws work?
A: All draws for national and regional games occur using Random Number Generator (RNG) software on stand-alone computerized draw machines. RNG software streamlines the draws while maintaining security, reliability, speed and the ability to audit results.
For more information, visit WCLC's Game & Draw Security webpage.
Q: When the Jackpot is big, why not offer several smaller prizes?
A: While most players would be happy to win a $1 million or $2 million jackpot, our research has shown that the majority of players prefer to purchase lottery tickets for a chance to win a larger, “life-changing” jackpot. Bigger jackpots also generate excitement and lead to group play and more tickets sold. Because of this, large jackpots often go to multiple winners, who each receive a more moderate prize.
Q: Your advertisting indicates LOTTO 6/49 jackpots start at $5 million, but your jackpot ads still show "estimated". Which is correct?
A: Jackpots on LOTTO 6/49 will start at a minimum of $5 million, however jackpots are always advertised as estimates because they could be higher. For jackpots above $5 million, it's estimated because fluctuations in sales or variations in the number of winners in lower categories can impact the amount available for the jackpot category.
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DAILY GRAND
Q: Does the Grand Number work the same as the Bonus number on LOTTO 6/49 or LOTTO MAX?
A: No. The Grand Number is selected from a separate range of numbers than the first five main numbers.
Think of it as choosing cards from two decks – you draw five cards from the first deck, without replacing any cards as you draw. Then you draw one more card from a second, smaller deck. For other games, the bonus number is an additional number drawn from the same deck, using only the numbers that haven't been drawn yet.
Q: Why doesn’t the top prize grow when it’s not won?
A: DAILY GRAND offers a “set” top prize - $1,000 a day for life, or a single payment of $7 million. All the other prizes on the game are also set.
Q: How long do the annuity payments last on the top two prize categories?
A: The annuity prizes on DAILY GRAND are intended as a true “for life” prizes, meaning they last for the life of the winner. There is no set maximum on the length of the payments, but there is a minimum of 20 years for annuity payments.
Q: Do winners have to pay tax on their winnings?
A: Lottery prizes are tax-free in Canada, but there are tax implications if a DAILY GRAND winner chooses the annuity option. Annuity payments include an additional amount to help offset tax amounts. This amount will be based on tax rates at the time of the claim. See the
DAILY GRAND Game Conditions for more details.
Q: What if the winner chooses the annuity and dies shortly thereafter?
A: If the winner passes away within 20 years, the winner’s beneficiary would have the option to receive either the remaining annuity payments in the same amount and frequency for the balance of the 20-year term or the commuted value of the remainder of the annuity (i.e. value of the balance of the 20-year term) as a lump sum. If the winner has multiple beneficiaries, the commuted value will be paid as a lump sum and divided among the beneficiaries. However, if the winner passes away after more than 20 years, the annuity is complete and no further payments are made.
Q: If a winner chooses the annuity option, how often will they receive payments?
A: Winners in the top prize category who select the annuity option will receive an initial payment for the first 10 weeks while the annuity is set up. The determination of the frequency of payments is at Interprovincial Lottery Corporation’s discretion and will be made in consultation with the annuity provider when chosen.
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LOTTO 6/49
Q: What are the two jackpots offered with LOTTO 6/49?
A: The first draw is for the Classic jackpot, where players try to match 6 numbers drawn from 1 to 49. The Classic has a jackpot of $5 million – and subsidiary prizes for matching as few as two main numbers on a line.
The second draw is for the growing Gold Ball jackpot. With each $3 play, players receive a unique 10-digit number which is the Gold Ball Number. A winner is selected every Wednesday and Saturday only from the tickets issued – so a winner guaranteed. Once the 10-digit number is drawn, a new draw is held to determine the prize amount. The winner will be awarded either a $1 million prize or the Gold Ball jackpot, which starts at $10 million and can grow to over $60 million.
Q: How does the Gold Ball Draw work?
A: Imagine 30 balls: 29 are white balls and 1 is the gold ball. Each white ball represents a $1 million prize. The gold ball represents the growing jackpot. If a white ball is drawn, the owner of the 10-digit number (selected from all tickets issued) will win $1 million. The Gold Ball jackpot will carry over to the next draw and will grow by $2 million. One white ball will be removed from the next draw (i.e. the next draw will be made from 28 white balls and the gold ball).
If the gold ball is drawn, the owner of the winning Gold Ball Number wins the Gold Ball jackpot. The Gold Ball jackpot starts at $10 million and can grow to over $60 million. Once the gold ball is drawn, the Gold Ball jackpot is reset to $10 million and all 30 balls are put back into the draw.
Q: Is the Gold Ball jackpot guaranteed?
A: It is guaranteed that either the growing Gold Ball jackpot or a $1 million prize is won each draw. The Gold Ball jackpot is only won when the gold ball is drawn. If a white ball is drawn, a $1 million prize is won.
Q: Can I pick my numbers for the Gold Ball draw?
A: No. You will receive a computer-generated 10-digit number with each $3 LOTTO 6/49 play. This is your Gold Ball Number.
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LOTTO MAX
Q: My number matched four numbers on one line of the MAXMILLIONS numbers. Why didn’t I win?
A: On MAXMILLIONS numbers, players can only win by exactly matching an entire number drawn. There are no subsidiary prizes for matching less than all seven numbers.
Q: What happens when a LOTTO MAX Jackpot or MAXMILLIONS prizes aren’t won?
A: Like with LOTTO 6/49, any LOTTO MAX jackpot amount not won carries over and is added to the Jackpot amount generated by sales for the next draw. The difference, however, is that the LOTTO MAX Jackpot stops growing when it reaches $70 million, and any additional 7/7 funding creates multiple $1 million prizes (MAXMILLIONS). MAXMILLIONS prizes generated by sales not won are added to those available for the next draw. However, please note that the rollover does not take into account any guarantee which the ILC may have given as to the jackpot or MAXMILLIONS.
Q: Why are the selections on my LOTTO MAX and WESTERN MAX ticket the same? Will this affect my odds of winning?
A: There is a feature that allows customers to Play Both- this allows players to have the same selections in both WESTERN MAX and LOTTO MAX games. This feature is also available with LOTTO 6/49 and WESTERN 649. Your odds of winning with Play Both are the same as if you have different selections for the two games. Because the game draws are separate, the numbers are as likely to be winning numbers on either game. If you want different selections for your WESTERN MAX and LOTTO MAX tickets, say "no" to Play Both.
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Q: Can I claim instant prizes before the draw takes place?
A: Yes. You have the option to claim any instant prize up to $1,000 right away, provided the retailer has enough cash to pay the prize. Once an instant prize is paid, you will receive a replacement ticket.
Q: Can I play POKER LOTTO without ALL IN?
A: Yes. ALL IN is an optional additional wager that players can add to their POKER LOTTO purchase for an additional $1 per play.
Q: How big can the ALL IN jackpot get? Is it capped at a certain amount?
A: The ALL IN jackpot starts at $10,000 and grows until it is won. There is no maximum or cap.
Q: How does the ALL in jackpot grow?
A: A percentage of every ALL IN purchase goes toward the jackpot. When the jackpot is won by a selection matching a Royal Flush, the jackpot is reseeded to $10,000.
Q: How up-to-date are the jackpots advertised at retail and on the website and mobile app?
A: The estimated jackpots are updated every five minutes. When an ALL IN jackpot or second prize is won, the new jackpot will display immediately, regardless of how recently the jackpot was last updated.
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EXTRA
Q: I matched the last two EXTRA digits, but when I took it to the store, it didn’t register for a prize. Why?
A: In order for the EXTRA number to be eligible for a draw, the word “ENTERED” must appear above the EXTRA number. If it reads, “NOT ENTERED” you wouldn’t be eligible for any prize. You should also make sure the winning EXTRA number corresponds to the date on your ticket.
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Mail Subscription Service
Q: What games are available by Subscription?
A: LOTTO MAX, LOTTO 6/49, DAILY GRAND, WESTERN MAX AND WESTERN 6/49
Q: How many draws can I buy? Can I buy just one draw?
A: You can purchase between 14 to 104 draws.
Q: When will my subscription start?
A: Your start date will be 10 days from the day it is processed by our subscription team. Subscriptions are manually processed in the order they are received. Traditionally we allow two weeks from the time it was received to the time you receive your certificate, some delays may occur therefore we cannot guarantee your start date.
Q: How do I know if I’ve won, do you notify me or can I be set up for notifications?
A: We do not currently have notifications set up for wins. You can check your numbers yourself using the winning numbers results on our website or by registering for our MVP service. You may also contact Customer Care to inquire.
Q: Can I choose to play only one draw per week with my subscription if the game has two draws per week?
A: No. When Playing by Subscription, your draws must play out consecutively for as many draws as you choose.
Q: Do I have the option to add EXTRA to Free Plays won on a Subscription?
A: No.
Q: Is Direct Deposit available for Subscription prize payments?
A: Yes. For instructions on how to get this set up, please call Player Care at 1-800-665-3313 during regular business hours.
Q: How do I pay for my Subscription?
A: Subscription orders must be paid in full prior to the Subscription being processed. Visa or MasterCard are accepted for phone orders; cheque or money order are accepted for mail orders.
If you wish to pay for a Subscription with a credit card, you may want to confirm with your card provider what, if any, additional fees may apply to a lottery Subscription purchase. Some card providers (banks, credit unions, etc.) use a “cash advance” code for lottery purchases. WCLC does not set these codes, and the additional fees go to the card provider. Some consumers have successfully argued to have these additional charges removed – but this is something that must be negotiated between you and your credit card provider. WCLC is not responsible for any additional charges or fees when using a credit card for a lottery subscription purchase.
Q: When and how do I get my prizes, and what happens if I win the jackpot?
A: Any prizes won totaling $50 and up to $1,000 are mailed to you within a few business days of the draw. If your prize is less than $50, Subscription Services will wait for the prize to accumulate to $50, and then send a cheque. If you have chosen Direct Deposit, your winnings between $2 and $1,000 are deposited on the first business day following the draw. For any prizes over $1,000, you will be contacted by WCLC.
All Free Plays won will accumulate until the end of the Subscription. At the end of the Subscription a new set of Quick Pick numbers are generated for the number of draws on which you have won Free Plays. (Example: if at the end of the Subscription you have won 24 Free Plays, you will get a Quick Pick set of numbers entered for 24 consecutive draws.)
Winners Certificates are mailed to subscribers when their Subscription has expired. It is a detailed breakdown of the prizes that were won over the duration of the Subscription.
Q: How long does it take to get a Subscription?
A: New orders are processed in the order they are received or may be dependent on the expiration of your existing subscription. Please allow up to two weeks to receive your Subscription Certificates.
Q: What name should go on the Subscription if playing by group? Can we have a group name?
A: Each group should appoint a group trustee. The name of the trustee should be the name on a group Subscription. A group name (up to 20 characters) can be added to the Subscription, however, the Subscription cannot be held in the group name.
Q: Can we change the trustee for a group Subscription?
A: Subscription Services should be advised of a change to a group’s trustee via email or letter. The letter should include the former trustee’s information, the new trustee’s information and both the former and new trustees’ signatures approving the change.
Q: If I go away for the winter can I have my winning cheques mailed to an alternate address?
A: No. If you have more than one address a good alternative would be to sign up for Direct Deposit.
Q: How will I know what numbers are on my Subscription?
A: Once the Subscription is processed, a Subscription Certificate is mailed to you, which will list all the numbers in play.
Q: Can I log in online somewhere to view my Subscriptions?
A: There is currently no online access to Subscriptions. All communications regarding Subscriptions are sent by regular mail to the address provided. At any time you can call Player Care at 1-800-665-3313 and speak to a representative about your subscription or get an update on prizes that have been won on the Subscription.
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Zing (SCRATCH 'N WIN)
Q: On the back of all Zing tickets, there is the line that states “Numbers in the area marked “CNTL. NO.” cannot be used to win a prize.” What does this mean?
A: The “CNTL. NO” (Control Number) is a four-digit number concealed under the latex in one of the Play Areas on the front of the ticket. One of the ways a retailer can check to see if a ticket is a winner is to scan the barcode on the back of the ticket and manually enter the Control Number. Until a ticket is scratched, the retailer cannot complete the validation to determine whether or not a ticket has won a prize. Because the Control Number is related to the validation, these numbers are not part of the game and can’t be used to win a prize.
Q: Where can I find how many prizes are still available on a certain Zing ticket?
A: You can find what prizes of $100 or more are remaining on current Zing tickets here.
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SPORT SELECT
Q: Where can I find more information about SPORT SELECT?
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