LOTTO MAX 2026: Rules, Odds, Prizes and Claims

Canada's redesigned LOTTO MAX game changes the cost and structure of a play, expands the number range and adds MAXPLUS prizes. This guide explains the verified 2026 rules, published odds, prize features, Canadian tax treatment and the main requirements for claiming a winning ticket.

What changed in LOTTO MAX in 2026

The redesigned LOTTO MAX rules apply from the April 14, 2026 draw. They replace the previous game conditions and change the price of a play, the number of selections included and the range from which numbers are chosen.

A new LOTTO MAX play costs $6. Each play contains four selections, and each selection contains seven numbers chosen from 1 to 52. Before the redesign, a play cost $5 and contained three selections using numbers from 1 to 50.

These details are important when reading the published LOTTO MAX odds. The game states some odds per $6 play and others per individual selection. A $6 play includes four selections, but the individual-selection odds describe only one of those seven-number selections.

The redesign also includes two named secondary prize features: MAXPLUS and MAXMILLIONS. MAXPLUS prizes are drawn separately from the main draw, while MAXMILLIONS prizes become available when the main jackpot reaches a specified amount. Neither feature replaces the main LOTTO MAX draw or changes the requirement to match the relevant numbers for the main-draw categories.

How a LOTTO MAX play works

LOTTO MAX draws take place every Tuesday and Friday. Nationwide sales close at 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Each play is connected to a particular draw, so the sales deadline for entering a draw is separate from the later deadline for claiming a prize.

The main draw consists of seven main numbers and one bonus number. All are drawn at random from numbers 1 to 52. The main prize categories use combinations of the seven main numbers and, in some categories, the bonus number.

The structure of the play and the structure of the draw should be kept separate. One $6 play contains four seven-number selections. The draw produces seven main numbers and one bonus number from the 1-to-52 range. A selection is then assessed against those drawn numbers to determine whether it falls into a listed prize category.

The published jackpot odds are approximately 1 in 33,446,140 per $6 play. On a per-selection basis, the odds are approximately 1 in 133,784,560. Both figures describe the chance of matching all seven main numbers, but they use different units: one complete $6 play in the first figure and one individual selection in the second.

If more than one selection wins the main jackpot, the jackpot is divided among the winning selections. It is not paid in full to every winning selection. The same distinction matters when considering a play with multiple selections: the presence of four selections does not turn a shared jackpot into four separate full jackpot payments.

Players checking a draw can use a regional results page such as Lotto Max results (Ontario) or Lotto Max results (British Columbia). The key claim detail remains the jurisdiction that sold the ticket, rather than the location of the results page used to check the numbers.

LOTTO MAX odds in 2026

The overall odds of winning any LOTTO MAX prize are approximately 1 in 5.8 per play. Under the previous version of the game, the overall odds were approximately 1 in 7 per play.

The overall figure is not the jackpot figure. It covers the chance of winning any listed LOTTO MAX prize, while the main jackpot has odds of approximately 1 in 33,446,140 per $6 play. A comparison of the two figures therefore needs to account for the different outcomes they describe.

The principal secondary main-draw categories have these approximate per-play odds:

• Matching 6 of 7 main numbers plus the bonus number: 1 in 4,778,020.
• Matching 6 of 7 main numbers: 1 in 108,591.
• Matching 5 of 7 main numbers plus the bonus number: 1 in 36,197.
• Matching 5 of 7 main numbers: 1 in 1,684.
• Matching 4 of 7 main numbers plus the bonus number: 1 in 1,010.

The remaining main-draw odds are approximately 1 in 72.2 for matching 4 of 7 main numbers, 1 in 72.2 for matching 3 of 7 main numbers plus the bonus number, and 1 in 7.0 for matching 3 of 7 main numbers.

These are published category odds, not promises about the result of a particular draw. The main jackpot odds remain substantially longer than the overall odds of winning any prize. The increase from approximately 1 in 7 under the previous game to approximately 1 in 5.8 under the redesigned game should therefore be read as an overall-prize comparison, not as a statement that the jackpot is likely to be won.

Because the main numbers and bonus number are drawn at random, personal number patterns do not provide a basis for treating one selection as more likely than another. The number range, the play format and the listed odds define the game; a preferred set of numbers does not alter those published odds.

How pooled categories are paid

Five main-draw categories receive specified percentages of the Pools Fund. The allocations are:

• 6/7 plus: 18.50% of the Pools Fund.
• 6/7: 18.85% of the Pools Fund.
• 5/7 plus: 12.25% of the Pools Fund.
• 5/7: 27.50% of the Pools Fund.
• 4/7 plus: 22.90% of the Pools Fund.

Each category's pool is divided among its winning selections. The percentages identify the share allocated to each category, while the amount received by an individual winning selection depends on the division of that category's pool among the winning selections.

The 4/7 and 3/7 plus categories have a fixed prize instead of a share described through those pooled percentages. A winning selection in either category pays $20. A 3/7 selection receives a free play rather than a cash prize.

This distinction helps separate three different ideas in the rules: the probability of reaching a category, the fund allocation for certain categories and the prize form for the lower categories. A listed odds figure does not by itself specify the amount that a pooled-category winner will receive.

MAXPLUS prizes

MAXPLUS prizes are drawn separately from the main LOTTO MAX draw. One $100,000 prize is associated with each $1 million in the main jackpot. When the main jackpot reaches $90 million, the game can produce up to 90 MAXPLUS prizes.

Each MAXPLUS prize is worth at least $100,000. The Interprovincial Lottery Corporation may increase the amount for a particular draw if it announces that increase in advance. The minimum value and any announced increase are separate from the number of MAXPLUS prizes associated with the main jackpot.

MAXPLUS is therefore distinct from a main-draw match. It is also distinct from the MAXMILLIONS feature and from the pooled categories based on matching six, five or four main numbers. The MAXPLUS prize is connected to a separate draw, while the main-draw categories depend on the drawn main numbers and bonus number.

The feature has been awarded in a live draw. A B.C. resident won a $100,000 MAXPLUS prize from the August 4, 2026 LOTTO MAX draw. That verified example demonstrates that MAXPLUS is an operating part of the redesigned game rather than only a future feature described in the rules.

MAXMILLIONS prizes

MAXMILLIONS prizes become available when the main jackpot reaches $50 million or more. Each MAXMILLIONS prize is $1 million.

A MAXMILLIONS prize is shared if more than one winning ticket bears the same MAXMILLIONS series. The $1 million amount is therefore the prize associated with that series before any required sharing among tickets bearing the same winning series.

MAXMILLIONS and MAXPLUS use different triggers and structures. MAXPLUS prizes are drawn separately from the main draw, with one $100,000 prize associated with each $1 million in the main jackpot and up to 90 prizes at a $90 million jackpot. MAXMILLIONS prizes become available at a main jackpot of $50 million or more and are valued at $1 million per prize, subject to sharing when the same series appears on more than one winning ticket.

Neither feature should be confused with the main jackpot. The main jackpot is won by matching all seven main numbers, and if more than one selection wins it, the jackpot is divided among those winning selections.

LOTTO MAX taxes in Canada

Canadian lottery winnings are generally not taxable and do not need to be reported as income. This applies to the prize itself, including a LOTTO MAX jackpot, a MAXPLUS prize, a MAXMILLIONS prize or another LOTTO MAX category prize.

Income generated after the winnings are received is treated differently. Interest from investing the winnings is an example of later income that is taxable. The original lottery prize and income produced after receiving it are separate matters: the prize is generally not reported as income, while income generated by holding or investing the money can be taxable.

This distinction is relevant for every prize size, not only the main jackpot. A MAXPLUS or MAXMILLIONS payment is still a lottery prize, while interest generated after receiving a prize is income produced afterward. The tax treatment of that later income does not change the general treatment of the original lottery winnings.

Tax treatment is also separate from prize validation. A prize may generally not be taxable as income, but the winning ticket still has to be claimed through the lottery jurisdiction that sold it and within the applicable claim period.

How to claim a LOTTO MAX prize

LOTTO MAX prizes must be claimed within one year following the draw date. The Interprovincial Lottery Corporation rules require a written claim and the original winning ticket before expiry. They also require any information or documentation needed to verify the claim.

A winning ticket generally has to be claimed through the lottery jurisdiction that sold it. A ticket bought in one Canadian province cannot simply be redeemed through another province's lottery corporation. The selling jurisdiction is therefore a central part of the claim process.

Prizes above a regional threshold may require in-person collection. The fact that a prize may require in-person collection does not establish one Canada-wide threshold or one identical procedure for every prize. Claimants should use the instructions connected to the jurisdiction that sold the ticket and provide the documentation required to verify the claim.

The original ticket should be retained through the claim process. A results page can help identify the draw and compare the numbers, but the original winning ticket is part of the required written claim process. Waiting until close to the one-year expiry creates avoidable risk, so a potential winner should begin the claim within the permitted period.

Claiming by ticket location

The place where a ticket was purchased matters because the ticket generally must be claimed through the lottery jurisdiction that sold it. A person may check results from elsewhere, but checking a result and redeeming a ticket are different actions. The results check identifies a possible winning draw; the selling jurisdiction handles the claim.

The rules also distinguish the time limit from the verification requirements. The one-year period runs following the draw date, while the written claim, original winning ticket and requested information or documentation must be provided before expiry. Both elements matter: a claim made without the required ticket or verification material may not satisfy the stated requirements, and a valid ticket presented after expiry is outside the one-year claim period.

For a prize above a regional threshold, in-person collection may be required. That possibility means the claim route can involve more than simply checking numbers online or presenting a ticket at an unspecified location. The relevant lottery jurisdiction's process controls the next step.

A plain-English summary of the redesign

The redesigned LOTTO MAX rules apply from the April 14, 2026 draw. A play costs $6 and contains four selections of seven numbers from 1 to 52. Before the redesign, the play cost $5 and contained three selections using numbers from 1 to 50.

Draws take place every Tuesday and Friday, and nationwide sales close at 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The main draw has seven main numbers and one bonus number drawn at random from 1 to 52. The main jackpot starts at $10 million and can grow to a maximum of $90 million.

The odds also need to be read in context. The overall odds of winning any prize are approximately 1 in 5.8 per play, compared with approximately 1 in 7 under the previous version. The odds of matching all seven main numbers are approximately 1 in 33,446,140 per $6 play, or approximately 1 in 133,784,560 per individual selection.

MAXPLUS prizes are drawn separately, with one $100,000 prize associated with each $1 million in the main jackpot and up to 90 MAXPLUS prizes when the jackpot reaches $90 million. MAXMILLIONS prizes become available when the main jackpot reaches $50 million or more, and each is $1 million, subject to sharing when more than one winning ticket bears the same series.

Finally, the claim rules remain separate from the draw rules. A prize must be claimed within one year following the draw date. The written claim, original winning ticket and required verification information or documentation must be submitted before expiry through the lottery jurisdiction that sold the ticket.

FAQ

When did the new LOTTO MAX rules start?

The redesigned LOTTO MAX rules apply from the April 14, 2026 draw, replacing the previous game conditions.

How much does a LOTTO MAX play cost?

A LOTTO MAX play costs $6 and contains four selections of seven numbers from 1 to 52. Before the redesign, a play cost $5 and contained three selections using numbers from 1 to 50.

What are the LOTTO MAX jackpot odds?

The odds of matching all seven main numbers and winning the main jackpot are approximately 1 in 33,446,140 per $6 play. The odds are approximately 1 in 133,784,560 per individual selection.

What are the overall odds of winning a LOTTO MAX prize?

The overall odds are approximately 1 in 5.8 per play. Under the previous version of the game, they were approximately 1 in 7 per play. This is the chance of winning any LOTTO MAX prize, not the chance of winning the main jackpot.

What are MAXPLUS prizes?

MAXPLUS prizes are drawn separately from the main draw. One $100,000 prize is associated with each $1 million in the main jackpot. There can be up to 90 MAXPLUS prizes when the jackpot reaches $90 million. Each prize is worth at least $100,000, although the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation may increase the amount for a particular draw if it announces the increase in advance.

When are MAXMILLIONS prizes available?

MAXMILLIONS prizes become available when the main jackpot reaches $50 million or more. Each MAXMILLIONS prize is $1 million and is shared if more than one winning ticket bears the same MAXMILLIONS series.

Are LOTTO MAX winnings taxable in Canada?

Canadian lottery winnings are generally not taxable and do not need to be reported as income. Income generated after receiving the winnings, such as interest from investing them, is taxable.

Where do I claim a LOTTO MAX prize?

A winning ticket generally has to be claimed through the lottery jurisdiction that sold it. A ticket bought in one Canadian province cannot simply be redeemed through another province's lottery corporation.

How long do I have to claim a LOTTO MAX prize?

LOTTO MAX prizes must be claimed within one year following the draw date. The written claim and original winning ticket must be provided before expiry, along with information or documentation needed to verify the claim. Prizes above a regional threshold may require in-person collection.

Responsible play

LOTTO MAX should be treated as entertainment, not as a financial plan. Set a spending limit that fits your budget, do not use money needed for essential expenses and do not chase losses. The published odds describe the game categories, and no number preference changes the random draw. If a ticket appears to win, protect the original ticket and begin the claim through the selling jurisdiction before the one-year deadline.