Play only if it is still a small entertainment expense

Lottery tickets are legal for adults in Canada under provincial rules. They are a poor way to pay rent, get out of debt or "invest". Our odds guide exists so that sentence is backed by arithmetic, not just a slogan.

Hard lines we recommend

• You must be of legal age in your province or territory — 19 in most of Canada, 18 in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec. Check your operator's rules.
• Decide a monthly amount before you see a jackpot headline, and stay under it. Big jackpots do not make a ticket a better deal for your budget.
• Do not chase losses with a larger purchase the next draw.
• Never borrow money, use credit or skip a bill to play.
• Be wary of "systems", number-picking services and subscriptions that promise better odds. They cannot work, because every draw is independent.
• If checking results is the first thing you do every morning and it sours your day, take a break.

Warning signs

Gambling may be becoming a problem if you spend more time or money than you intended, hide how much you play, feel anxious or irritable when you are not playing, or feel you need to win back what you have lost. These are common experiences and help is free and confidential.

Help in Canada

• British Columbia: Gambling Support BC — 1-888-795-6111 (free, confidential, 24/7) · gamblingsupportbc.ca
• Ontario: ConnexOntario — 1-866-531-2600 · connexontario.ca
• Across Canada: Responsible Gambling Council — provincial and territorial help directory
• If you are in immediate distress: call or text 9-8-8, the Suicide Crisis Helpline.

Self-exclusion and limits

Self-exclusion programs, deposit limits and time limits for online play are set up through your provincial lottery corporation (for example, BCLC's PlayNow.com in British Columbia), not through this website. Search your operator's site for "self-exclusion" or "limits".

How this site tries not to make things worse

We do not run countdown clocks, "lucky number" generators or "tonight's numbers" emails. We do not sell tickets or link to ticket resellers. The statistics on our results pages are always shown next to the plain fact that they cannot predict the next draw. If a feature would only work by nudging people to play more, it will not be added.