LEARN TO PLAY LOTTER
Want to learn more about lottery games?
PlaySmart is OLG’s source for how-to-play tips, odds of winning, strategies, and all sorts of lottery information.
On this page you’ll learn the basics that every lottery player should know.
Key Lottery Facts
Featured Stories
The Missing Millions
What should you do after buying a lottery ticket? Shove it in your pocket? Neatly pin it to your bulletin board? Find out what happens when players lose track of winning lottery tickets.
#1 Popular Lottery Number
What do you think is the number-one lottery number people play with OLG? Here are some clues. First, the number is different for everyone. And to add to the mystery, everyone on the planet has one.
LOTTO 6/49 VS ONTARIO 49
Deciding whether to play a national lottery like LOTTO 6/49, or a provincial one like ONTARIO 49? Understand they key differences from odds to ticket prices, jackpot sizes, and more.
How to Pick Lottery Numbers
Depending on your game of choice, there are up to two ways to pick your numbers, whether playing online or in-store:
Lottery Categories
Matching numbers or symbols is the goal of most lottery games, but different games have different play styles, prize amounts, odds, and even add-ons. Find out which is right for you!
DAILY GAMES
Daily Games offer two draws per day, every day. No need to wait a week, these games are all about results on the daily, with better odds of winning on smaller top prize amounts compared to weekly games.
WEEKLY GAMES
Weekly games feature the largest jackpots with draws 1-2 times per week. Pay as little as $1 for the chance to win up to millions in jackpots! Join Canada in playing national games like Lotto Max or Lotto 6/49.
WATCH ‘N WIN GAMES
Watch ‘N Win games are perfect for the customer on-the-go and offer two chances to win! Play in-store and get your lottery results instantly, then keep your ticket for an automatic chance at the nightly draw!
WHERE CAN I PLAY?
online
Register for an OLG.ca account to play your favourite games online and have your winnings deposited directly into your account.
IN-STORE
Buy your tickets while out and about with our in-store option! Quick, convenient, and close to home.
Keep your online lottery play fun with our easy-to-use My PlaySmart tools. Avoid overspending by setting money budgets, get feedback on your play habits, and take a break whenever you want.
WANT TO GO BEYOND THE BASICS?
If you want even more Lottery facts, play tips, odds info, and strategies, PlaySmart has you covered.
Ready to Play?
If you feel like you’ve learned enough to jump in, check out OLG’s Lottery lobby to select a game and start playing.