Saturday June 12, 2021 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke, Editor | Island Social Trends
A few people in western Canada are somewhat richer after last night’s Lotto Max draw. There were 21 Maxmillion winners, one of those who bought their ticket in Vernon, BC.
There was no winner of the much-talked-about $70 million jackpot.
There were 20 Maxmillion numbers won by a total of 24 ticket holders across the country (one ticket got split 50/50 and the another was shared three ways as $333,333.40 each): 13 of the winning tickets were purchased in Ontario, four in the Prairies, three in Atlantic Canada, three in Quebec and one in British Columbia.
How far does a million dollars go in today’s economy? Might buy a nice house in the Greater Victoria area. Half a million pays down a big mortgage.
The winning numbers for the June 11 Friday night draw were: 20 | 21 | 25 | 33 | 38 | 44 | 45 and the Bonus number was 22.
The winning landscape:
For the June 11 draw there was the $70 million jackpot up for grabs as well as 56 Maxmillions prizes of $1 million each.
Four ticket holders each won $229,173.70 for matching 6 of 7 numbers plus the bonus number. Those winners were in Ontario (1), Quebec (2), and Atlantic Canada (1).
All prizes together saw the total potential winnings of last night’s draw at about $120 million, said the BC Lottery Corporation (BCLC).
Next draw June 15:
The jackpot for the next draw on Tuesday June 15 will again be an estimated $70 million and the number of Maxmillions prizes will increase to 58.
“Lottery excitement is hitting unprecedented heights as Canada’s largest lottery game sets a second national record in less than one week for total prizes,” said BCLC in a news release ahead of last night’s draw.
Players can purchase Lotto Max tickets at any of the 3,500 lottery retailers in BC, as well as online at PlayNow.com or on the BCLC Lotto! app.
So far in 2021, BCLC players have redeemed over $58 million in winnings from Lotto Max.
How it works:
Lotto Max draws are run twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays at 7:30 pm Pacific Time. The ticket price is $5 for three selections of seven numbers; numbers are selected from 1 to 50. Overall odds to win any prize are one in seven (per $5 play), while odds of winning the main jackpot are one in 33,294,800 (per $5 play).
Lotto Max is a nationwide lottery game with two weekly jackpots that start at $10 million and grow up to $70 million.
As a way of spreading the larger-prize wealth, Lotto Max offers $1 million ‘Maxmillion’ prizes when the main jackpot reaches and exceeds $50 million.
The top jackpot winner for matching 7 of 7 numbers on their winning ticket gets 87.25% of the total pool of funds.
By comparison, the 649 draw (on Wednesdays and Saturdays) offers one $1 million instant winner with every draw. Those tickets are $3 for a selection of six numbers per play.
Why it works:
Of course, the lure of spending money on lottery tickets (which is a form of gambling) is for the hope of thinking one might be set free from the regular work of making a living.
The cost of living in Canada is high, and consumer debt is high (more so on mortgages during COVID, when people otherwise had an opportunity to save and/or spend less during the period of less activity during public health restrictions).
Where the money goes:
Other than to ticket-holder winners, funds from lottery tickets and gaming in BC (including lotteries) is revenue for the BC government of which about 75% is put toward the ongoing provincial budgets for public health and public education.
===== RELATED LINKS:
New BC Lottery Corp board chair oversees $1.3+ billion annual revenue (May 21, 2021)
Lottery win 60K+ with ticket purchased at Fairway in Langford (May 21, 2021)
A $2 million pause from Victoria resident’s breakfast to check lottery ticket (January 25, 2021)