Calculators

Lotto 6/49 vs Québec 49: Same Top Prize Odds, Other Prizes

Both games draw six numbers and one extra number from the same set, and the top prize odds per play are the same. Below are the prices, prizes and return per dollar, side by side.

Lotto 6/49: top prize per $11 in 41,951,448any prize per $1: 1 in 19.9
Québec 49: top prize per $11 in 13,983,816any prize per $1: 1 in 32.3

Dollar for dollar, the top prize is most likely in Québec 49: 3.0 times the chance of Lotto 6/49. No game gives back more than it takes on average.

Lotto 6/49

Price of a play$3
Lines in a play1
Draws a week2
Top prize$5,000,000 split if shared 6/6
Top prize, one play1 in 13,983,816
Top prize per $1 spent1 in 41,951,448
Any prize, one play1 in 6.6
Any prize per $1 spent1 in 19.9
Fixed prizes per $122.6% jackpot and pool prizes left out
Prize money set aside per $148%
With $12 a week4 plays
Top prize in a year1 in 66,909
Prizes in a year, on average31.5
Spent in a year$626

Québec 49

Price of a play$1
Lines in a play1
Draws a week2
Top prize$2,000,000 split if shared 6/6
Top prize, one play1 in 13,983,816
Top prize per $1 spent1 in 13,983,816
Any prize, one play1 in 32.3
Any prize per $1 spent1 in 32.3
Fixed prizes per $149.9%
Prize money set aside per $149.9% the payout rate the operator publishes
With $12 a week12 plays
Top prize in a year1 in 22,339
Prizes in a year, on average19.4
Spent in a year$626

Prize of every tier

MatchLotto 6/49Québec 49
6/6 1 in 13,983,816$5,000,000 split if shared$2,000,000 split if shared
5/6 + Bonus 1 in 2,330,63632.2% of the prize pool$75,000
5/6 1 in 55,49113.5% of the prize pool$750
4/6 1 in 1,03254.4% of the prize pool$75
3/6 1 in 56.7$10$10
2/6 + Bonus 1 in 81.2$5$5
2/6 1 in 8.3Free play–

Lotto 6/49's Gold Ball draw depends on how many draw numbers are issued and is not in this table.

Highlighted: the better figure in the row. Fixed prizes per $1 count every fixed and shared prize at face value and a free play as one more play; jackpots and prize pools depend on sales and are left out.

How it is calculated

Source: OLG game conditions checked Nov 2, 2026 · OLG page checked Nov 2, 2026 · Loto-Québec game conditions checked Nov 2, 2026 · Loto-Québec page checked Nov 2, 2026

Lotto 6/49 odds →Québec 49 odds →

Same numbers, same top prize odds

RuleLotto 6/49Québec 49
You picksix numberssix numbers
Drawnsix main numbers + bonus numbersix main numbers + complementary number
Possible combinations13,983,81613,983,816
Top prize odds per play1 in 13,983,8161 in 13,983,816
Draw daysWednesday and SaturdayWednesday and Saturday
Price of one play$3$1
Organisernational game, run by ILCLoto-Québec, in Québec

The extra number matters only in tiers marked with a plus. All tiers: Lotto 6/49 odds and Québec 49 odds and prizes.

How each game pays its prizes

Lotto 6/49

  • 6 of 6: $5,000,000, split between winners
  • 5 of 6 + bonus, 5 of 6 and 4 of 6: shares of prize pools
  • 3 of 6 and 2 of 6 + bonus: fixed amounts
  • 2 of 6: a free play
  • Each play also has a Gold Ball Draw Number: prize $1,000,000 or the Gold Ball Jackpot

Québec 49

  • 6 of 6: $2,000,000, split between winners
  • All other tiers: fixed amounts
  • Total prizes for 5 of 6 + complementary are capped per draw
  • Lowest tier is 2 of 6 + complementary
  • No free play tier

Any prize per play and per dollar

GameAny prize per playAny prize per dollar
Lotto 6/491 in 6.621 in 19.9
Québec 491 in 32.31 in 32.3

Lotto 6/49 pays a free play for 2 of 6. Québec 49 has no such tier, so any prize is rarer there per play and per dollar.

Return per dollar from fixed prizes

MeasureLotto 6/49Québec 49
Return per dollar, fixed prizes only22.6%49.9%
What the fixed figure countstop prize at face value and fixed tiers; pool tiers left outevery tier, top prize at face value
Payout rate Loto-Québec publishes–49.9%
Share of price set aside for prize funds48.0%–

Both fixed figures count the top prize at face value. Lotto 6/49 pays its second to fourth tiers from pools, left out here, so the figures count different things.

The same weekly money for a year

Lotto 6/49 plays a week

4

For example, a budget of $12 a week.

Québec 49 plays a week

12

The same $12 a week.

Lotto 6/49 top prize chance

1 in 66,909

Chance of the top prize at least once in a year with that budget.

Québec 49 top prize chance

1 in 22,339

Chance of the top prize at least once in a year with that budget.

Lotto 6/49 prizes a year

31.5

Winning lines in a year on average with that budget.

Québec 49 prizes a year

19.4

Winning lines in a year on average with that budget.

Sources

Questions

Is Québec 49 the same game as Lotto 6/49?

No. Both draw six main numbers and one extra number, with top prize odds of 1 in 13,983,816 per play. Québec 49 is a Loto-Québec game at $1; Lotto 6/49 is national, costs $3 and has other prizes and a Gold Ball draw.

How do Québec 49 and Lotto 6/49 top prize odds per dollar compare?

Per dollar spent, the top prize chance is 1 in 13,983,816 in Québec 49 and 1 in 41,951,448 in Lotto 6/49. The odds per play are the same, but one play costs $1 against $3.

Why is any prize rarer in Québec 49?

Lotto 6/49 pays a free play for 2 of 6, its most common tier. The lowest Québec 49 tier is 2 of 6 + complementary, so any prize is 1 in 32.3 per play against 1 in 6.62.

What payout rate does Loto-Québec publish for Québec 49?

Loto-Québec publishes a theoretical payout rate of 49.9% for Québec 49. For Lotto 6/49, the game conditions set the share of each play allocated to prize funds: 48.0% of the price – a different measure.