Canada’s Lotto Max Jackpot Reaches Historic $80 Million

Canadian lottery players are currently sizing up the biggest ever jackpot for the Lotto Max. The dial has hit an unprecedented CAD 80 million (USD $58.8 million) for Tuesday’s draw, setting a new record in the country’s lottery history.

The rise comes after the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) announced an increase in the maximum jackpot last week, which rose from CAD 70 million to CAD 75 million (U.S. $51.5 to $55.1 million) for Friday night’s draw. With no winners on Friday, the jackpot has now grown to an all-time high.

The BCLC’s recent announcement about increased maximum jackpots has fueled speculation about whether Lotto Max will continue to break its own records. Just last week, Friday’s draw had risen to a then-record CAD 75 million, sparking a surge in ticket purchases. Now, with the jackpot hitting CAD 80 million, this latest milestone sets the stage for a historic payout if a single winner emerges.

Lotto Max’s allure comes not only from its massive jackpots but also from the additional MaxMillions draws that accompany the main prize once the jackpot exceeds CAD 50 million (U.S. $36.7 million). MaxMillions offers multiple CAD 1 million (U.S. $735,700) prizes in each draw; for Tuesday’s draw, there are also an estimated 40 MaxMillions prizes available.

Although the Lotto Max jackpot may not have a recent winner, there have been several of the top prizes awarded already this year. A northern Ontario couple celebrated two life-changing events last month when they welcomed their newborn baby and won a CAD 70 million jackpot.

According to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp., it was their first time purchasing a lottery ticket in Canada. The couple had just returned home from a Toronto hospital after their baby’s birth following a high-risk pregnancy, and the jackpot win was another nice addition to the family.

Canadian lotto vs. U.S. mega jackpots

Comparing the Canadian Lotto Max to its U.S. counterparts highlights just how substantial Tuesday’s jackpot is. The current Mega Millions jackpot for this Tuesday is estimated to be $31 million. Mega Millions, one of the two major lotteries in the U.S. alongside Powerball, had its jackpot reset after an $800 million win in Texas on Sept. 10.

While the Mega Millions prize is smaller at the moment, it’s worth noting that it has a long history of producing some of the world’s largest lottery jackpots.

Lotto Max is stealing the spotlight this week, but the Mega Millions lottery remains mired in a different kind of drama. A $1.128 billion Mega Millions prize, drawn nearly six months ago, remains unclaimed. The winning ticket, purchased in New Jersey, is one of the largest unclaimed lottery prizes in U.S. history. Under New Jersey law, winners have 12 months from the drawing date to claim their prize, meaning the clock is ticking for the lucky ticket holder.

Adding to the lottery frenzy, no one won the $152 million Powerball jackpot on Saturday, pushing the prize to $165 million for the Monday night drawing.