Our focus here is typically on real estate investment, financial management, even an exploration of new frontiers like cryptocurrency, all ways one can build wealth, and enjoy the “work hard, play hard” benefits of an affluent lifestyle. True wealth is a steady build, but sometimes I like to reach for the moon, and see if I can hit the grand slam in one at-bat. So I will play the lottery. So how can I buy lottery tickets online?
In recent years, many lottery players have migrated to buying tickets online in Canada rather than heading to the convenience store. When I buy a lottery ticket, usually a LOTTO 6/49, it’s from a convenience store. I’d like to get in and out of there fast, but sometimes there’s a line at the cashier. Buying online is a convenient alternative when you’re busy, have mobility troubles, or want to avoid getting a physical ticket. Best of all, playing the lottery online in Canada boasts the same odds. Winners have come from online tickets.
There are Canada-wide lotteries online and regional games in every province available to residents. Which one you play depends on where you live, what’s available, and your preferences. Lotto Max and Lotto 6/49 are, by far, the most popular lottery games in Canada. Both offer online ticket purchases.
First: Set your lottery budget
The most critical strategy is setting a budget. While the lottery is fun to play, it’s a form of gambling. Treat this habit as such. Set a maximum budget and stick with it.
With online accessibility, buying lottery tickets and overspending is easier than ever. View it as entertainment by allocating a budget in advance. Ideally, this financial planning also ensures you stay within your monthly income.
OLG online lottery page. Image/OLG Screenshot.
How Can I Buy Lottery Tickets Online?
In markets like Ontario, lottery players have been able to purchase lottery tickets for national lottery games such LOTTO MAX, LOTTO 6/49, DAILY GRAND plus Ontario-only games such as LOTTARIO, ONTARIO 49, DAILY KENO on OLG.ca since 2015.
In order to ensure lottery players are of legal age to purchase lottery tickets and also reside in Ontario, you are required to set up an account on OLG.ca. If you just want to purchase lottery tickets on OLG.ca, there is a simple registration process that takes about one minute to complete.
Once you are registered, you can buy tickets with a credit card or debit card, without having to deposit funds into the OLG.ca e-wallet. Accepted forms of payment include VISA, Mastercard, VISA debit, Mastercard debit and American Express. OLG also accepts Apple Pay.
In the province’s open gaming market, OLG.ca is the only gaming website where you can purchase lottery tickets.
After you’ve registered at OLG.ca, you will notice that it’s not just a portal for selecting lottery numbers. It’s essentially an online casino, including digital slots, Blackjack, and table games at your disposal. These virtual games offer entertainment and monetary compensation if you are lucky. That said, these games are entirely optional. Most prefer to save their money to play the lottery instead.
Select your ticket and input your numbers
After funds are deposited, select your ticket. Pick your lottery numbers to use. You can manually enter lotto numbers or let them be set automatically. Both number-selection strategies have advantages. Some participants prefer manual selection, like taking destiny into their own hands. Others enjoy the ease and accessibility of automatic numbers. Either way, winners have won jackpots from both approaches.
Next, add other plays or ENCORE, if applicable. Afterwards, you’re done with nothing more to do. Your numbers are registered and locked in, ready to play the lottery.
Wintario 50, Ontario’s newest lottery. Image/OLG screenshot
Register for future lottery draws
Online lottery games focus on repeat customers. A strategy they use is allowing accounts to budget for future lotto draws. These features are called ‘future draws,’ ‘Never Miss A Draw,’ or similar language. This way, you can register your lotto numbers across several future draws and budget according to your account’s amount of money. It’s a smart strategy if you don’t have the time to buy a new ticket every draw or don’t want to overspend on tickets.
Check whether you have won the lottery
After a draw, you can find the results on a lottery corporation’s website. If you have registered for email notifications, a message will inform you of the jackpot prizewinners and the winning numbers. This method makes it easy to check your numbers, especially if you play a specific set of digits every week.
Claim a lottery prize in Canada
Any lottery wins less than $1,000 is automatically added to your OLG.ca wallet if you play online. It can then be withdrawn that way into your bank account. For wins above $1,000 online, a claim must be submitted. From there, you may be mailed a cheque. Alternatively, an appointment will be scheduled to follow up and provide you with your prize. Online claims are typically processed within five business days.
OLG online lottery, payment section. OLG screenshot.
Are More People Buying Lottery Tickets Online Now?
Since the pandemic, more and more purchases are being made online and lottery sales are no different. OLG is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and that means for five decades lottery players have been buying their tickets at one of their 10-thousand retailers across the province. So, some buying habits are hard to change.
Currently, sales of lottery products from their retail channels accounts for 90 percent of sales versus 10 percent of digital sales. However, a spokesperson there said they are seeing good growth with online lottery sales due in part to changing shopping habits, and how OLG has responded to customer preferences with more games being offered and the simpler ‘Direct Pay’ option for online lottery purchases.
History of Lotteries in Canada
When searching Canadian lottery history, many people in the country might remember the Olympic Lottery, intended to raise funds for the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.
What many people may not realize is that was Canada’s first national lottery. The success of the Olympic Lottery led to the creation of other national lotteries, such as Lotto 6/49 and Lotto Max, which remain popular today.
Over the years national lotteries in Canada have raised billions for charitable causes and community programs, in particular around healthcare, education and social services. It’s a fun way for Canadians to go for winning lottery numbers, win big prizes and change their lives.
Lotto 6/49 is played across Canada. Players choose six numbers from a pool of 49 and if they match all six numbers they win the jackpot. There are also secondary prizes for matching five, four, or three numbers.
Lotto Max is another lottery played across Canada. Players choose seven numbers from a pool of 50, and if they match all seven numbers, they win the jackpot. There are secondary prizes for matching six, five, four or three numbers there as well.
Variety of Lotteries Across the Country
With the Daily Grand, grand prize winners get $1,000 per day for the rest of their lives.
The Interprovincial Lottery Corporation (ILC) was established by the five provincial/regional lottery organization in Canada – Ontario Lottery and Gaming Association (OLG), Atlantic Lottery Corp (ALC) (comprised of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI and NFLD), Loto Quebec (LQ), Western Canada Lottery Corp (WCLC) (comprised of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut), and British Columbia Lottery Corp (BCLC) – to operate these national lottery games.
There are of course several provincial lotteries in Canada as well. OLG has LOTTARIO, Ontario 49, PICK 2,3,4, Daily KENO, and Proline, for example.
What are the odds of winning a national lottery like Lotto Max? According to the OLG website the odds of coming up with winning lottery numbers is 1 in 33,294,800. But Canadians line up faithfully every day across the country to buy their tickets anyway, all for a shot at the dream life.
Top image by Mark Keast
I am a 50-something Torontonian who loves everything about my city. It’s been my home, my playground, for my entire life. I went to school here. I met my wife here. I own real estate here. I love writing about the transformation of my city on the world stage, which hasn’t been anything short of dramatic. That continues on, as I write this. I write on the real estate scene. I write on travel and fashion. I like following the world of luxury watches.
But I love writing about cars – check that, luxury cars, a level of superior, engineering sophistication, high performance and style, that transports you not just from one destination to another but also out of whatever you are going through on a particular day, whatever mood you are in, all to another head space. It’s complete and total exhilaration, head to toe.
Check out my stories, and email me direct at mkeast@regardingluxury.com
