Lotto Max is a Canadian lottery with a rich tradition. Since its launch in 2009, it has frequently played host to the largest prizes in Canada; jackpots regularly reach eight figures, and with the additional MaxMillions game, even more players get the chance to become a Lotto Max millionaire. Read on to learn more about everything that has happened in Lotto Max, starting with the most recent big events and going back to its introduction.
Looking for historical Lotto Max results? Go to the Past Numbers page.
Lotto Max was launched on Friday, September 25 2009, as a replacement for Lotto Super 7. With a bigger minimum jackpot on offer - $10 million, as opposed to Lotto Super 7’s $2.5 million – Lotto Max was an overnight success, generating more revenue in its first 10 months than its predecessor did in its biggest sales year.
In the draw of July 6 2012, the total value of jackpot prizes on offer hit the $100 million mark for the first time in the game’s history. Lotto Max’s jackpot cap of $50 million was reached, and an additional 50 Max Millions prizes of $1 million were on offer. The July 6 draw saw a single ticket holder from Quebec win the entire Lotto Max jackpot, though only 17 of the Max Millions prizes were won. The remainder of the Max Millions prizes – which totalled $33 million - were added to the following week’s jackpot.
On July 17 2015, the Lotto Max jackpot cap was increased from $50 million to $60 million; that very draw, a group of 20 Rona employees from Quebec won a $55 million jackpot from a single ticket.
The first draw to reach the $60 million jackpot cap took place on September 25 2015. The jackpot was won on one ticket sold in Brampton, Ontario, becoming the second-largest lottery jackpot won by a single ticket in Canada.
On August 12 2016, a record-breaking total jackpot value of $102 million was reached; the Lotto Max jackpot hit its $60 million cap, with 42 Max Millions prizes also offered. The feat was repeated on January 6 2017 and then eventually surpassed on June 8, when 50 Max Millions prizes were offered alongside the maximum jackpot.
A record for the biggest Lotto Max prize pool ever offered was set on October 26 2018, when 55 Max Millions prizes were played for on top of the $60 million jackpot cap. The main jackpot was won by a ticket holder in Edmonton, but just 27 of the Max Millions prizes were won - meaning the remaining Max Millions prizes rolled over into the next Lotto Max jackpot. The starting jackpot for that following draw was $42 million.
Significant changes were made to Lotto Max on May 14 2019. The jackpot cap was increased to $70 million, an additional Lotto Max draw was announced for every Tuesday, and the ball pool was increased from 49 to 50. Two more prize tiers were also created, giving players nine possible prizes to win from playing the main game.
The game had previously only been drawn on Fridays, and the extra weekly draw allowed the jackpot to grow even faster. It was not long until a new record was set for the largest-ever jackpot.
The record books were completely re-written during an unprecedented run in June 2021 that culminated in six straight draws offering total prize pools in excess of $100 million, along with two draws offering $140 million- $70 million in the Lotto Max jackpot and an additional $70 million via 70 extra Max Millions draws. In total, 148 extra millionaires were made across these six draws from Max Millions being won.
The Jackpot was finally won on June 22 2021, bringing to an end 17 straight draws without a jackpot winner. The capped amount was finally won by one ticket in Britich Columbia and one ticket in Ontario. Because the total prize amount was so high, the following draw started with a $50 million jackpot and 2 Max Millions draws, rather than resetting to the $10 million starting jackpot.
The maximum jackpot was increased again ahead of the draw on September 10, going from $70 million to $80 million. All the other rules, including the cost to play, remained the same, but this change paved the way for a new Lotto Max record to be set.
The maximum jackpot was raised from $70 million to $80 million from September 10, 2024, and within a week a new record had been set as two players split the money. Find out about this history-making moment and other big wins.
Adlin Lewis, a credit risk manager from Brampton, Ontario, broke the record for the biggest ever Lotto Max jackpot when he claimed the first ever $70 million prize. The jackpot had carried over since November 29 2019 and it reached the new $70 million jackpot cap for the first time ever on January 3. It took just one more draw for it to be won.
The second $70 million jackpot of 2020 was won just six weeks after the first. It went to Gregory Matthieu, a 22-year-old grocery store worker from Quebec.
Adrian Olmstead took five months to come forward and claim his $70 million jackpot. The winner said he took the time to ensure that he had all the best advice on how to manage his newfound fortune.
Two former work colleagues from Ontario jointly claimed the fourth $70 million jackpot of 2020. Donna Williamson and David Overall used to play as part of a syndicate when they worked together, and they continued to buy tickets together ever since.
The jackpot powered up to $70 million again in time for Thanksgiving weekend, when a lucky ticket holder from Quebec matched all seven numbers to win the full amount. The big draw also offered 19 Max Millions prizes.
Ontario couple Marc and Dorothy-Ann Meilleur joined the $70 million club when one of their Quick Picks matched all the numbers. The husband and wife bought their ticket from Mayer Services Esso on David N. Street in their home town of Noëlville.
A record-breaking run created another $70 million jackpot for this draw, along with 70 MaxMillions prizes for a combined $140 million. The jackpot was split between two tickets - one sold in Kamloops in British Columbia and the other in Ontario.
A single ticket holder from British Columbia equalled the $70 million record in this draw. There were also 13 MaxMillions prizes up for grabs, three of which were claimed.
Manoharan Ponnuthurai, from Brampton in Ontario, had played lotteries for around 30 years. He had a set of his own numbers which he liked to play, but for this draw he bought a Quick Pick and was rewarded with a $70 million pay day.
A single ticket holder from Alberta in Western Canada won this $70 million jackpot, ending a run of more than six weeks without a winner. There were also 40 MaxMillions prizes on the same night, and 12 of them were won.
Two tickets matched all the numbers in this record-equalling draw, giving each player a payout of $35 million. Half the money went to someone from British Columbia, while the other half was claimed by Ruth Bowes from Edmonton in Western Canada.
Patricia Warden from Ottawa, who had been a teen mother, survived cancer as a young adult and overcome drug addiction, said she was determined to give back to the community after winning $70 million. She also planned to buy new homes for her family members.
Two players matched all the numbers to bank $40 million each. One winner was revealed to be Bernard Morissette, a man in his 80s from the Outaouais region in Quebec who only remembered to buy his ticket minutes before the deadline. The other winner came from Grey County in Ontario.
The way in which MaxMillions prizes are funded was changed on October 23 2020. Under the revamped rules, the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation (ILC) now determines two things ahead of each draw once the Lotto Max jackpot reaches $50 million:
The first draw after the new rules came into effect took place on October 27 2020.