Learn
Pari-Mutuel Lottery Prizes: Why Amounts Change
Some lottery prizes are not fixed: a pool of money is divided by the number of winners. The animation above shows the split; the tables show which Canadian prizes work this way.
Loading the simulator
How a pool prize is calculated
- The pool is setLotto Max: ILC sets the Main Jackpot before the draw; the other pool tiers are percentages of the Pools Fund, which is funded from plays.
- Winning shares are countedEvery winning selection in that tier is one share. A Pick-3 wager larger than the smallest amount counts as more shares.
- The pool is dividedPool ÷ number of winning shares = the prize for each share. Each winning share gets the same amount.
- Pool tiers are roundedLotto Max pool tiers: if the amount is not a multiple of ten cents, under five cents extra is dropped, five or more rounds up.
- Draw Fund prizes round upMain Jackpot, MAXPLUS and MAXMILLIONS amounts that are not a multiple of ten cents round up to the next ten cents.
One pool, many winners
| Situation | What each winner gets |
|---|---|
| A single winner | The whole pool of that tier |
| More winners | A smaller, equal share of the same pool |
| Example, pool tier | $1,000,000 ÷ 3 = $333,333.30 after pool-tier rounding |
| No winner (Lotto Max) | Pool goes to the Draw Fund for later draws, at ILC's discretion |
The pool can stay the same while the prize per winner changes from draw to draw.
Pool prize vs fixed prize
Pool (pari-mutuel) prize
- Prize per winner is known only after the draw, once winners are counted
- Depends on the pool (sales or an operator-set amount) and the number of winners
- Same pool, more winners, smaller prize each
Fixed prize
- Amount printed in the game conditions
- Does not depend on the number of winners
Pool prizes in Canadian games
| Game and tier | Pool | How the prize is set |
|---|---|---|
| Lotto Max 7 of 7 | Main Jackpot, set by ILC before the draw | Equal share of the Main Jackpot |
| Lotto Max 6 of 7 + bonus | 18.5% of the Pools Fund | Pool ÷ winning selections |
| Lotto Max 6 of 7 | 18.85% of the Pools Fund | Pool ÷ winning selections |
| Lotto Max 5 of 7 + bonus | 12.25% of the Pools Fund | Pool ÷ winning selections |
| Lotto Max 5 of 7 | 27.5% of the Pools Fund | Pool ÷ winning selections |
| Lotto Max 4 of 7 + bonus | 22.9% of the Pools Fund | Pool ÷ winning selections |
| Lotto Max 4 of 7, 3 of 7 + bonus, 3 of 7 | Not a pool | Fixed prize |
| Lotto Max MAXPLUS and MAXMILLIONS | Prize shared by matching selections | Prize ÷ winning selections |
| OLG Pick-3 Straight and Box | 50% of ticket sales for the draw | Pool ÷ winning shares; with doubles, Straight pays three times Box |
Full tier lists: Lotto Max prize breakdown and Pick-3 payouts.
Words on this page
- Pari-mutuel
- A prize system where a pool is divided by the number of winning shares.
- Pools Fund
- The Lotto Max money that is divided between the pool tiers by fixed percentages.
- Draw Fund
- Lotto Max money that pays the Main Jackpot, MAXPLUS and MAXMILLIONS prizes, including unwon pools.
Sources
- OLG – PICK-3 Game Conditions · checked Oct 29, 2026
- OLG – Lotto Max Game Conditions · checked Oct 29, 2026
- OLG – Conditions de jeu du Lotto Max · checked Oct 29, 2026
- WCLC – Lotto Max Game Conditions, in effect 2026-04-10 · checked Oct 29, 2026
Questions
What is a pari-mutuel lottery prize?
A prize paid from a pool that is divided equally among all winning shares in one tier. More winners means a smaller prize each, fewer winners means a larger one.
Why did my Lotto Max prize change from the last draw?
Tiers from 6 of 7 + bonus down to 4 of 7 + bonus are shares of a pool. The Pools Fund comes from plays sold, and the prize depends on how many winners share it.
Which prizes covered on this page are pari-mutuel?
This page covers Lotto Max and OLG Pick-3 only: the Lotto Max jackpot, its pool tiers, MAXPLUS and MAXMILLIONS prizes, and Pick-3 Straight and Box prizes. Lotto Max 4 of 7, 3 of 7 + bonus and 3 of 7 are fixed.
Can a lottery jackpot be split between winners?
Yes. Each winning selection that matches 7 of 7 in Lotto Max gets one equal share of the Main Jackpot. See the odds of splitting a jackpot.
Why do Lotto Max pool prizes end in round cents?
If a Lotto Max pool-tier prize is not a multiple of ten cents, under five cents extra is dropped and five or more rounds up. Main Jackpot, MAXPLUS and MAXMILLIONS amounts round up to the next ten cents.