Canada
How Long to Claim a Lottery Prize in Canada
The calculator gives the last day to claim from the draw date and region. Below it: the lottery claim deadline in each region, the rule wording and the first steps.
The year starts on the draw day itself, so it ends the day before the anniversary of the draw.
delivers a written claim and the original winning ticket to the Corporation or the Regional Marketing Organization prior to the expiry of one year commencing on the date of the draw or within the time limit otherwise specified on the ticket, whichever is the earliest.
Source: societe.lotoquebec.com (2026-10-29)
How it is calculated
“One year commencing on the date of the draw”: the draw day is day 1, so the last day is the day before the anniversary. “One year from the draw date”: counted from the next day, so the anniversary is the last day. A draw on February 29 has its anniversary on February 28.
Days left = last day − today, in calendar days.
Claim periods by region
| Region | Rule source | Claim period |
|---|---|---|
| Interprovincial games | ILC rules | 1 year from the draw date, or earlier date on ticket |
| Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, territories | WCLC | 1 year from the draw date |
| Alberta | AGLC | 1 year from the draw date; scratch: date on back |
| British Columbia | BCLC – BC/49, Keno (archived copy) | 1 year following the draw date |
| New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, PEI | Atlantic Lottery – Keno Atlantic, TAG (archived copy) | 1 year following the draw date |
| Ontario | OLG | Rule not found in our sources |
| Quebec | Loto-Québec | Rule not found in our sources |
ILC rules list OLG and Loto-Québec as Regional Marketing Organizations. Archived copy means a saved snapshot of an operator page.
Counting the last day
Last day = draw date + claim period, or the earlier date printed on the ticket
Example: For example: draw on March 14, 2026 + 1 year → last day March 13, 2027 under the ILC wording.
Draw games vs scratch tickets
Draw games
- WCLC: tickets expire 1 year from the draw date
- AGLC: 1 year from the draw date, as shown on the ticket
- ILC: an earlier date printed on the ticket applies
Scratch tickets
- AGLC: the expiry date is printed on the back
- WCLC: the date on the ticket applies
With a winning ticket
- Keep the original ticketKeep the paper ticket safe. The ILC rules ask for the original winning ticket, not a copy.
- Check the draw dateFor example, a ticket from the draw on March 14, 2026. The claim period counts from this date.
- Find the last dayUnder the ILC wording, claim by March 13, 2027. The WCLC rule gives March 14, 2027. Plan for the earlier date.
- Send the claimDeliver a written claim with the original ticket to ILC or the regional lottery organisation before the last day.
Related pages
Unclaimed prizes
WCLC says unclaimed national-game prizes return to players through jackpots and bonus draws. Deadlines by province.
Tax on a prize
WCLC says lottery prizes are tax-free in Canada; the Daily Grand annuity option has tax implications.
Fake win messages
How to spot a message about a prize you never claimed.
Sources
- AGLC – How to claim a lottery prize · checked Oct 29, 2026
- Loto-Québec – Rules and Regulations Respecting Lotteries and Lottery Tickets · checked Oct 29, 2026
- WCLC – Frequently asked questions · checked Oct 29, 2026
- WCLC – Travel tips · checked Oct 29, 2026
- Loto-Québec – Règlements relatifs aux loteries et billets de loterie · checked Oct 29, 2026
- BCLC – BC/49 Game Conditions and Prize Structure Statement (archived copy) · checked Oct 29, 2026
- BCLC – Keno Game Conditions and Prize Structure Statement (2025, archived copy) · checked Oct 29, 2026
- Atlantic Lottery – Keno Atlantic Game Conditions (archived copy) · checked Oct 29, 2026
- Atlantic Lottery – TAG Game Conditions (archived copy) · checked Oct 29, 2026
Questions
How long do you have to claim a Lotto Max prize?
Under the ILC rules, the written claim and the original ticket must be delivered within 1 year of the draw date, or by an earlier date printed on the ticket. WCLC lists Lotto Max tickets as expiring 1 year from the draw date.
Can I claim a ticket bought in another province?
Canada has separate lottery regions, and a ticket bought in one region cannot be checked or paid in another. AGLC says tickets bought outside WCLC regions must be claimed at the address on the back of the ticket.
What should I do first with a winning ticket?
Keep the original ticket safe – the ILC rules require it with a written claim. Then check the draw date or the date printed on the ticket, and claim in the region where it was bought.
Do scratch tickets have the same claim deadline?
Not always. AGLC says scratch ticket expiry dates are printed on the back of the ticket, while other lottery games expire 1 year from the draw date.