Lotteries
Odds of Winning Lotto 6/49: Each Prize
The exact odds for each Lotto 6/49 prize, the chance of any prize and how payouts are split, all counted from the official game conditions.
Out of 100,000 plays, about 15,102 win a prize (12,006 of them a free play). The top prize: about one winner in every 140 such crowds of 100,000.
2/6: 12,0063/6: 1,7652/6 + Bonus: 1,2314/6: 96.9
Gold Ball draw
Each white ball drawn leaves the drum, so the chance grows draw after draw until the gold ball comes out and the set starts again.
Source: OLG game conditions checked Oct 29, 2026
How it is calculated
Source: OLG game conditions checked Oct 29, 2026
Lotto Max vs 6/49 →6/49 vs Ontario 49 and Western 649 →Chance of sharing a jackpot →
Every 6/49 prize
| Prize tier | You match | Odds per play | Prize type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 of 6 | all six main numbers | 1 in 13,983,816 | fixed top prize, shared by winners |
| 5 of 6 + bonus | five main numbers and the bonus | 1 in 2,330,636 | share of the Pools Fund |
| 5 of 6 | five main numbers, no bonus | 1 in 55,491 | share of the Pools Fund |
| 4 of 6 | four main numbers | 1 in 1,032 | share of the Pools Fund |
| 3 of 6 | three main numbers | 1 in 56.7 | fixed cash prize |
| 2 of 6 + bonus | two main numbers and the bonus | 1 in 81.2 | fixed cash prize |
| 2 of 6 | two main numbers | 1 in 8.33 | free play |
| Any prize | any row above | 1 in 6.62 | – |
Odds are for one play in the Classic Draw. For 4 of 6, the bonus number can be one of your other numbers or not.
Out of 100,000 plays
Win any prize
15,102On average, this many plays out of 100,000 match at least one prize tier. The rest win nothing.
Most common prize
1 in 8.33Most of these wins are 2 of 6, which pays a free play, not cash.
Jackpot
1 in 13,983,816On average, far fewer than one play in 100,000 matches all six main numbers.
Counting all 6/49 tickets
Combinations = ways to choose six numbers from forty-nine, order ignored = 13,983,816
Example: Only one combination matches all six main numbers, so the jackpot odds are 1 in 13,983,816.
How the payouts are split
| Tier | How the prize is paid |
|---|---|
| 6 of 6 | fixed amount from the Draw Fund, split equally among winners |
| 5 of 6 + bonus, 5 of 6, 4 of 6 | each tier gets a set share of the Pools Fund, split equally |
| 3 of 6, 2 of 6 + bonus | fixed cash amount per winning play |
| 2 of 6 | free play for a later draw |
| No winner in a top tier | money moves to later draws, at ILC's choice |
The top tiers share their money among all winners, so one prize depends on how many people match.
Gold Ball draw odds
Full drum
1 in 30Each draw takes one ball. A white ball pays the fixed white-ball prize. The Gold Ball pays the Gold Ball Jackpot.
White balls removed
1 in 15A drawn white ball stays out, so the chance of gold is one divided by the balls left.
Words on this page
- Classic Draw
- Six main numbers and one bonus number drawn from forty-nine. See how Lotto 6/49 works.
- Bonus number
- The seventh number drawn. It only counts for 5 of 6 + bonus and 2 of 6 + bonus.
- Pools Fund
- Money set aside from each play to pay these prizes: 5 of 6 + bonus, 5 of 6 and 4 of 6.
- Combination
- One set of six numbers, order ignored. See combinations explained.
Sources
- OLG – Lotto 6/49 Game Conditions · checked Oct 29, 2026
- OLG – Conditions de jeu du Lotto 6/49 · checked Oct 29, 2026
- WCLC – Lotto 6/49 Game Conditions, revision 2022-02-23 · checked Oct 29, 2026
Questions
What are the odds of winning Lotto 6/49?
The jackpot (6 of 6) odds are 1 in 13,983,816 for one play. The chance of winning any Classic Draw prize is 1 in 6.62. Most of those wins are the 2 of 6 free play.
What are the odds of matching three numbers on 6/49?
The odds of 3 of 6 are 1 in 56.7 per play. This tier pays a fixed cash amount set in the game conditions, not a share of a pool.
How are the Gold Ball odds counted?
One ball is drawn from the drum each draw. The chance it is the Gold Ball is one divided by the balls left: 1 in 30 with a full drum, 1 in 2 when only the gold and one white ball are left.
Does a quick pick have better odds than my own numbers?
No. Every combination has the same chance in each draw, whether a computer picks it or you do. The jackpot odds stay 1 in 13,983,816.
Are Lotto 6/49 odds better than Lotto Max odds?
The two games have different rules and prize tiers. Lotto Max vs Lotto 6/49 puts the published odds of both games side by side.