Press release

Montréal, June 12, 2017 – The very first Lotto 6/49 draw was conducted on June 12, 1982. Since then, over $7.7 billion was paid out to Quebecers thanks to this popular lottery, including 982 jackpots and 271 guaranteed prizes.

35 years later, Lotto 6/49 continues to produce winners. It is the most well-known lottery in Canada, with a 99% recognition rate.

At the June 12, 1982 launch:

• The odds of winning a prize was 1 out of 53.7 (today, it is 1 out of 6.6).
• The cost of the ticket was $1 (today, it is $3).
• The minimum jackpot was $500,000 (today, it is $5 million).

The Lotto 6/49 format was used for other lotteries, including the Powerball and Megabucks in the United States.

The 10 most frequently drawn numbers

The biggest jackpots won in Québec

• $32,912,981 in the April 29, 2009, draw (Montérégie)
• $32,707,357 in the November 9, 2016, draw (Montréal)
• $30,000,000 in the June 25, 2008, draw (Chaudière-Appalaches)
• $30,663,650 in the August 11, 2012, draw (Estrie)
• $27,000,000 in the May 26, 2007, draw (Montréal)
• $25,000,000 in the May 23, 2007, draw (Montérégie)
• $25,000,000 in the January 21, 2017, draw (Outaouais)
• $24,426,784 in the October 26, 2004, draw (Montérégie)
• $23,846,591 in the January 2, 2016, draw (Estrie)
• $22,915,322 in the September 13, 2006, draw (Capitale-Nationale)
• $22,572,856 in the August 6, 2008, draw (Côte Nord)
• $22,442,363 in the December 31, 2011, draw (Montréal, Montérégie and Estrie)
• $20,663,499 in the February 19, 2011, draw (Montréal)

Noteworthy dates 

• September 24, 1984: Start of Quick Picks
• September 11, 1985: Start of bi-weekly draws (Wednesday and Saturday)
• March 1986: The Lavigueur family’s jackpot garnered significant media attention. The most famous Lotto 6/49 winners, they took home the $7,650,000 jackpot, which, at the time, was the largest prize ever paid out by Loto-Québec.
• October 27, 1990: The $19 million jackpot was divided into 18 prizes due to 18 winning selections! That was a record. Among the 18 winners, 3 were from Québec.
• March 30, 1994: A group from Saint-Wenceslas shared a $19 million jackpot, the largest prize ever paid out at the time.
• September 2, 1995: The jackpot reached $24,000,000. It was total frenzy! Sales topped $22.3 million in Québec and $81.6 across Canada. That three-day sales record still stands today.
• A Saguenay resident won the Lotto 6/49 jackpot twice: first, $747,348 in October 1983 and then $1 million in 2003.
• 2005: Tabagie Ti-Père in Louiseville sold an $8.5 million winning Lotto 6/49 ticket to a group in the region. Two months later, in August, the same retailer sold a winning $3.9 million Lotto 6/49 ticket to another group.
• March 19, 2008: The winning selection was 23, 40, 41,42, 44, 45 (43). There were 239 winners in the 5/6+B category (usually, there are only 2 or 3)! 
• October 17, 2015: Lotto 6/49 paid out a record jackpot worth $64 million.

Popular slogans

• It won't change the world, but...
• Bye, boss!
• Always be nice with those who play Lotto 6/49
• You should play 6/49

Quotes

“After 35 years, Lotto 6/49 has maintained a special place in the hearts of Quebecers,” said Isabelle Jean, President of Operations – Lotteries and Vice President of Public Affairs. “With the addition of guaranteed prizes and the possibility of playing online in recent years, Lotto 6/49 continues to innovate and produce more winners in Québec.”

About Loto-Québec

Loto-Québec’s mission is to responsibly and efficiently manage games of chance in a controlled and measured fashion, in the interest of all Quebecers. Entertainment is at the heart of its activities. From January 1 to June 7, 2017, Loto-Québec has awarded 65 prizes worth $1 million or more, for a total of 83 new millionaires. Thanks to the lotteries Gagnant à vie! and Grande Vie, 16 lucky winners walked away with a lifetime annuity or a lump sum.