Lotteries
Lotto Max Changes: Numbers, Price and Odds Compared
The Lotto Max price increase and the move to 52 numbers, with each rule version counted from its own game conditions. Pick two versions above to compare them.
From Sep 10, 2024 to Apr 14, 2026: a play went from $5 to $6 and from 3 to 4 lines; the jackpot of one play became 0.5% less likely.
From Sep 10, 2024
until Apr 10, 2026From Apr 14, 2026
in force nowEvery version in the sources
Older versions (49 numbers, before October 2020) are not in our sources yet, so they are not shown.
How it is calculated
Source: OLG game conditions checked Oct 29, 2026 · OLG page checked Oct 29, 2026
Rule versions on one line
| First draw | Main change | Status |
|---|---|---|
| October 27, 2020 | Earliest version in our sources | Replaced |
| January 23, 2024 | New game conditions; numbers, price and odds unchanged | Replaced |
| September 10, 2024 | Wider jackpot cap range; numbers, price and odds unchanged | Replaced |
| April 14, 2026 | Bigger drum, one more selection per play, higher price | In force |
Each row is a separate set of official game conditions. The date is the first draw played under those rules.
Before and after
| First draw | Numbers in drum | Price per play | Jackpot odds per play | Any prize per play | Fixed return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 27, 2020 | 50 | $5 | 1 in 33,294,800 | 1 in 6.98 | 10.9% |
| January 23, 2024 | 50 | $5 | 1 in 33,294,800 | 1 in 6.98 | 10.9% |
| September 10, 2024 | 50 | $5 | 1 in 33,294,800 | 1 in 6.98 | 10.9% |
| April 14, 2026 | 52 | $6 | 1 in 33,446,140 | 1 in 5.83 | 10.8% |
Fixed return is the share of the price paid back on average by prize tiers with set amounts. The jackpot and shared pools are not included.
Previous rules vs current rules
Previous rules
- 50 numbers in the drum
- 3 selections of seven numbers per play
- Price $5 per play
- Jackpot odds 1 in 33,294,800 per play
- Any prize 1 in 6.98 per play
- Jackpot capped within a range set by ILC
Current rules
- 52 numbers in the drum
- 4 selections of seven numbers per play
- Price $6 per play
- Jackpot odds 1 in 33,446,140 per play
- Any prize 1 in 5.83 per play
- Main Jackpot set by ILC and announced before the draw
What changed in numbers
Price per play
$6Up from $5. One play now has 4 selections instead of 3.
Jackpot odds per play
1 in 33,446,140Was 1 in 33,294,800. More numbers make each selection less likely to match; the extra selection almost balances it.
Any prize per play
1 in 5.83Was 1 in 6.98. A play now wins some prize more often.
Fixed return
10.8%Was 10.9% of the price. The rest of the prize money goes to the jackpot and shared pools.
Sources
- OLG – Lotto Max Game Conditions · checked Oct 29, 2026
- WCLC – Lotto Max Game Conditions, in effect 2020-10-23 · checked Oct 29, 2026
- WCLC – Lotto Max Game Conditions, in effect 2024-01-22 · checked Oct 29, 2026
- WCLC – Lotto Max Game Conditions, in effect 2026-04-10 · checked Oct 29, 2026
- OLG – Conditions de jeu du Lotto Max · checked Oct 29, 2026
- Loto-Québec – Conditions de jeu du Lotto Max, en vigueur le 2026-04-10 · checked Oct 29, 2026
- WCLC – Lotto Max Game Conditions, in effect 2024-09-06 · checked Oct 29, 2026
- Loto-Québec – Conditions de jeu du Lotto Max, en vigueur le 2024-09-06 · checked Oct 29, 2026
Questions
What changed in Lotto Max in 2026?
From the draw on April 14, 2026, the drum has 52 numbers instead of 50, a play has 4 selections instead of 3, and the price is $6 instead of $5.
Why did the Lotto Max ticket price go up?
The game conditions do not give a reason. They show what the new price buys: 4 selections per play instead of 3, drawn from 52 numbers.
Are the Lotto Max jackpot odds worse with more numbers?
Per play, a little: 1 in 33,446,140 now versus 1 in 33,294,800 before. Each selection is less likely to match, but one play now has 4 selections.
Did the 2024 Lotto Max versions change the odds?
No. Both kept 50 numbers, 3 selections, a price of $5 and jackpot odds of 1 in 33,294,800. The September version widened the range within which ILC caps the jackpot.