A clerk gives a Lotto Max ticket to a customer at a gas station north of Newcastle, Ontario, on Thursday, October 6, 2022. CTV News
The Lotto Max jackpot for Tuesday night's draw has reached an unprecedented $80 million, setting a new record for Canadian lotteries. This massive prize mark follows a $5 million increase from the previous draw after Friday's $75 million jackpot went unclaimed.
Earlier this month, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) raised the jackpot cap from $70 million, and it has now increased in $10 million increments three times since its introduction in 2009. The Lotto Max draw has become a major event for lottery enthusiasts, and tonight’s draw promises an additional twist with an estimated 18 Maxmillions prizes, each worth $1 million, also up for grabs.
For those hoping to take a chance, tickets are available at participating retailers until 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday. This is the largest jackpot in Canadian history, highlighting the growing popularity of the Lotto Max game and the increasing stakes for players.
However, despite the excitement, the odds of winning the jackpot are extremely slim. Jeffrey Rosenthal, a statistics professor at the University of Toronto, emphasizes the difficulty of winning. “The chances of picking the seven numbers that match the jackpot draw are very low,” Rosenthal explained. According to the OLG, the probability of hitting the jackpot is 1 in 33,294,800. Each $5 ticket offers three sets of seven numbers, but with nearly 100 million possible combinations, the odds remain daunting.
Rosenthal advises that every combination of numbers has an equal chance of being drawn, whether players choose their own numbers or use the QuickPick option. He also suggests a strategy for avoiding common number choices, such as those linked to birthdays (1-31). By selecting less common numbers, players reduce the likelihood of having to share the jackpot with others who may have chosen the same numbers.
The Lotto Max jackpot has captured the imagination of many Canadians, with the potential for life-changing wins driving people to try their luck. Despite the long odds, the allure of such a massive prize continues to attract hopeful participants.
As excitement builds for the draw, many are eager to see if someone will become the next big winner or if the jackpot will continue to grow, setting new records for future draws.
