Scratch & 50/50
Princess Margaret Lottery: Chance of a Prize by Draw
The chance of a prize and the average prize value per dollar for each Princess Margaret Lottery draw. Figures come from the rules saved on the date in Sources.
For the $100 you spend, the prizes of your tickets are worth $19.21 on average, at the values stated in the rules (homes, cars and trips at their stated value, not cash in hand).
| Lottery | Your tickets | Tickets sold | Prize draws | Chance | Average value | Per $1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Lottery | 1 for $100 | 395,000 | 12,155 | 1 in 32.5 | $19.21 | $0.19 |
Average prize value per $1 spent, for the pack you picked. A bigger pack costs less per ticket. If fewer tickets are sold, every prize is still drawn, so each ticket is worth more on average.
Source: Princess Margaret Home Lottery – Rules and Regulations (2026-11-02)
How it is calculated
A winning ticket is set aside: chance that at least one of your n tickets wins one of k draws = 1 − C(N − k, n) ÷ C(N, n).
Home LotteryN = 395,000, k = 12,155, n = 1
Several lotteries are separate draws: chance of at least one prize = 1 − the product of (1 − chance in each).
Four draws, four sets of odds
Home Lottery
1 in 32.5395,000 tickets, 15,662 prizes, $100 per ticket. Chance of any prize for a ticket ordered after the Early Bird deadline. Grand Prize odds: 1 in 395,000.
Cash Calendar
1 in 27.7At most 252,928 tickets, 9,116 cash prizes, $25 per ticket. Chance per ticket if every ticket is sold.
Wanderlust
1 in 11,862118,624 tickets, 10 prizes, $25 per ticket. Chance per ticket if every ticket is sold.
50/50 Add-On
$2,000,000 minimum prizeNo limit on tickets, so the chance is known only after sales close. One winner gets half of the jackpot.
What a single ticket is worth
| Draw | Price of one ticket | Chance of a prize | Average prize value per dollar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Lottery | $100 | 1 in 32.5 | $0.19 |
| Cash Calendar | $25 | 1 in 27.7 | $0.20 |
| Wanderlust | $25 | 1 in 11,862 | $0.20 |
Home Lottery: ordered after Early Bird deadline. Others: all tickets sold. Prizes at stated value, not cash. The rest of sales is not paid as prizes.
How the Home Lottery chance is set
- A fixed print runThe rules fix the number of Home Lottery tickets at 395,000. No more can be sold.
- Prizes drawn among those tickets15,662 prizes in total are drawn among the tickets sold, across several draws.
- Order date sets the drawsA ticket ordered after the Early Bird deadline enters only the remaining draws. Deadlines: see hospital home lotteries.
- Grand PrizeThe odds of the Grand Prize are 1 in 395,000 per ticket.
- Chance and value differChance of any prize: 1 in 32.5 (ordered after the Early Bird deadline). Average prize value: $0.19 per dollar. See expected value.
Home Lottery vs 50/50 Add-On
Home Lottery
- Fixed print run of 395,000 tickets
- Chance of any prize for a ticket ordered after the Early Bird deadline: 1 in 32.5
- Tickets ordered earlier enter more draws
- Prizes counted at the value stated in the rules
50/50 Add-On
- No limit on the number of tickets
- Chance known only when sales close
- One prize: the winner gets half of the jackpot
- Minimum prize set in the rules: $2,000,000
- See 50/50 odds for chance by tickets sold
Sources
- Princess Margaret Home Lottery – Rules and Regulations · checked Nov 2, 2026
Questions
What are the odds of winning the Princess Margaret Lottery?
For a Home Lottery ticket ordered after the Early Bird deadline, the chance of any prize is 1 in 32.5. The Grand Prize odds are 1 in 395,000.
Which Princess Margaret draw has the best odds?
Chance of a prize: Cash Calendar 1 in 27.7 and Wanderlust 1 in 11,862 if every ticket is sold; Home Lottery 1 in 32.5 for a ticket ordered after the Early Bird deadline. The 50/50 Add-On chance is unknown until sales close. Value per dollar differs by draw.
Can I buy Princess Margaret tickets outside Ontario?
The rules say: “Tickets must be ordered and delivered within the province of Ontario.” Anything beyond that depends on the laws where you live; this page is not legal advice.
Is the Princess Margaret Lottery tax deductible?
The rules state: “Prize winnings are not taxable. Ticket purchases are not tax deductible.” More on prizes and tax: lottery tax in Canada.