Lotteries first appeared in the Low Countries during the 15th century, with various towns and cities holding public lotteries for the benefit of the poor. The practice proved popular and was hailed as a form of painless taxation. Today, the oldest lottery, the Staatsloterij, is still in operation. The English word lottery is derived from the Dutch noun “lot”, meaning “fate.”
The prize for winning the Lotto is usually cash, but the exact amount depends on the draw. You can play up to seven lines of numbers on each play slip. If your numbers match the numbers drawn, you win the prize! This is an excellent way to win money, and it’s fun to watch the numbers come up!
If you win the jackpot, you can choose to receive your prize in a lump sum or an annuity. The lump sum option is less exciting upfront, but it’s easier to invest it for future income. You can also choose a tax-free annuity option. Annuities are paid in installments over a period of time, so they’re ideal for people who want to make payments over a long period of time.
Lotto Max was introduced in May 2019. This new lottery introduced major changes to the game. It now offers a second weekly drawing on Tuesdays, a maximum jackpot of $70 million, a 50-number field, and two prize tiers. It’s administered by the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation.
The prize pool for a Lotto draw will vary based on how many players win. The winning numbers for a given draw can vary, so you’ll need to check the Payout Rules of each game before you buy. There is a limit of four weeks for playing Lotto HotPicks. If you want to play more than four draws, you can do so with Lotto Advance Play.