BCLC expecting 20% increase in ticket sales for record Lotto 6/49 jackpot
Lotto 6/49 tickets are seen in this undated image. (BCLC/Twitter)
Someone in Canada will wake up $68 million richer on Thursday thanks to the first-ever maximum Lotto 6/49 gold ball jackpot.
The B.C. Lottery Corporation says it's expecting ticket sales to increase by approximately 20 per cent compared to the levels seen for other major jackpots – defined as those that reach $50 million or more – this year.
Unlike other lottery games, the gold ball draw has a guaranteed winner every time. Thirty balls – 29 white and one gold – are placed in the draw. If the gold ball is selected, one ticket sold for that day's lottery wins $10 million. If a white ball is selected, the winner is awarded $1 million, and the gold ball jackpot increases by $2 million for the next draw, which proceeds with 28 white balls and one gold.
Wednesday's Lotto 6/49 draw marks the first time that all 29 white balls have been drawn before the gold ball, meaning the next draw is guaranteed to feature a maximum gold ball jackpot of $68 million.
While the odds of winning the traditional $5 million Lotto 6/49 jackpot by matching all six numbers are one in nearly 14 million, the odds of winning the gold ball jackpot depend on the total number of tickets sold across the country.
CTV News asked BCLC how many tickets it has sold in B.C. for Wednesday's draw so far, but the corporation said it does not keep real-time statistics. Even if it did, exact sales figures likely would not be released "due to business interests," a spokesperson said.
"Historically speaking, we do see significant increases in lottery ticket sales when we see jackpots grow to $50 million or higher," the spokesperson said in an email.
"We know British Columbians enjoy playing for significant lottery jackpots, and tonight’s $68-million gold ball jackpot is no exception."
BCLC is celebrating the record jackpot with another round of its "Feeling Golden" promotion. Starting at noon Wednesday, the corporation began giving away 6,800 free $3 Lotto 6/49 tickets to players who wear visibly gold clothing or accessories at participating BCLC mall lottery kiosks.
"Everyday jewelry doesn't apply here," a news release announcing the promotion notes.
More information on the promotion is available on the BCLC website.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Filmmakers in Bruce Peninsula 'accidentally' discover 128-year-old shipwreck
Yvonne Drebert and Zach Melnick were looking for invasive mussels when they found something no has laid on eyes for 128 years.
NHL veteran Perry apologizes for 'inappropriate' behaviour, says he is seeking help
Corey Perry says he has started seeking help for his struggles with alcohol following his release from the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks.
Chinstrap penguins nod off more than 10,000 times per day in seconds-long 'microsleeps,' study finds
A new study has documented the peculiar sleeping habits of this species of penguin. Instead of taking one long continuous period of sleep, chinstrap penguins prefer to sleep in seconds-long intervals, more than 10,000 times a day.
Factors behind Canada's drug shortages go back 'decades': expert
Experts say drug shortages have gradually worsened in Canada over the last decade, putting patients in difficult and sometimes dangerous positions. But potential solutions like rethinking where drug manufacturing is concentrated and expanding pharmacists' prescribing privileges could help ease those impacts.
Israeli military confirms release of 8 more Israeli hostages from captivity in Gaza Strip
Hamas freed eight Israeli hostages Thursday in exchange for Israel's release of more Palestinian prisoners under a last-minute deal to extend their ceasefire in Gaza by another day.
Claims of toxic workplace at CSIS absolutely 'devastating': PM says
Allegations of a toxic workplace culture, involving harassment and sexual assault at Canada's spy agency are 'devastating' and 'absolutely unacceptable,' Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Thursday.
Suspect arrested in Morocco could be behind Ontario bomb threats, OPP says
Investigators have 'strong reason' to believe that a suspect taken into custody in Morocco could be behind numerous bomb threats across Ontario in early November, police say.
Cristiano Ronaldo faces US$1B class-action lawsuit after promoting for Binance NFTs
Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo has been hit with class-action lawsuit seeking at least US$1 billion in damages for his role in promoting cryptocurrency-related "non-fungible tokens," or NFTs, issued by the beleaguered cryptocurrency exchange Binance.
'The only choice': Defence Department going with Boeing to replace aging Aurora fleet
The federal government is buying at least 14 Boeing surveillance planes from the United States to replace the aging CP-140 Aurora fleet, cabinet ministers announced Thursday. The deal costs more than $10.3 billion in total, including US$5.9 billion for the jets themselves, and the planes are expected to be delivered in 2026 and 2027.
Vancouver Island
-
B.C. prosecutors consider charges against Victoria police officer after fatal shooting
British Columbia's police watchdog is asking the B.C. Prosecution Service to consider charges against a Victoria police officer who shot and killed a man two years ago.
-
Missing Nanaimo woman found 'very cold,' transported to hospital for assessment
A 21-year-old Nanaimo woman who had been missing since Tuesday in the rugged woods southwest of the city has been found.
-
East Sooke neighbourhood tap water unsafe for infants, authorities warn
Health authorities are warning residents in a rural neighbourhood west of Victoria about high concentrations of manganese in their tap water, saying the mineral may pose health risks to infants.
Calgary
-
Zadorov dealt to Canucks in return for draft picks in 2024 and 2026
The Calgary Flames traded defenceman Nikita Zadorov to the Vancouver Canucks Thursday.
-
Former NHL stars promoting men's health and prostate cancer screening and testing
Lanny McDonald sports a championship ring he earned after winning the Stanley Cup with the Calgary Flames in 1989 and remains a fixture in the community. McDonald along with Wendel Clark and Guy Carbonneau are spreading the word about the importance of men getting checked for prostate cancer.
-
‘Seeing a comeback’: demand for Christmas parties, markets back to pre-COVID levels in Lethbridge
Whether it’s attending a Christmas party or browsing a holiday-themed market, events this season are seeing a high level of interest.
Edmonton
-
Devon, Alta., town councillor sentenced to 120 days in jail following guilty pleas
A councillor for the Town of Devon, just southwest of Edmonton, was sentenced Thursday to 120 days in jail for harassing and threatening members of her family.
-
Alberta set for $5.5B budget surplus, despite big bucks for fires, floods and drought
Alberta’s budget surplus is growing but will be offset by more than $1 billion this year to pay for floods, forest fires and drought.
-
4 teens rescued from sex trafficking, 3 teens facing charges: police
Four teenage girls have been rescued in a months-long human trafficking investigation and three teens are facing charges, police in Edmonton announced on Thursday.
Toronto
-
Additional charges laid in hate-motivated mischief investigation at Yorkville Indigo bookstore
Toronto police have laid additional charges against 11 people in connection with a hate-motivated mischief investigation at a downtown Indigo bookstore.
-
Suspect arrested in Morocco could be behind Ontario bomb threats, OPP says
Investigators have 'strong reason' to believe that a suspect taken into custody in Morocco could be behind numerous bomb threats across Ontario in early November, police say.
-
It may be cheaper to stay in a hotel for a month than rent an apartment in Toronto
While the thought of staying in a hotel for a month might sound like an expensive proposition, it may actually be cheaper than paying rent in Toronto.
Montreal
-
Ex-Quebec firefighter Kenneth Marlin sentenced to 14 years for molesting kids on farm
On Thursday, Quebec Court Justice Joey Dubois sentenced Kenneth Marlin to 14 years in prison for abusing five children over the span of a decade on his parents' farm in Hemmingford, Que., a small rural town about 65 kilometres south of Montreal.
-
Man, 20, found fatally shot inside car: Montreal police
Montreal police (SPVM) are investigating after a 20-year-old man was discovered inside a car with a fatal gunshot wound Thursday afternoon.
-
Police say multiple weapons used in serious assault on man at Montreal homeless encampment
The mayor is denouncing a 'violent attack' that left a 57-year-old man at a homeless encampment in Montreal with serious injuries on Thursday.
Winnipeg
-
'Still loved by many people': Family of missing man starts billboard campaign looking for information
Relatives of a man who has been missing since 2021 are launching a campaign in the hopes someone will come forward with information.
-
'More people can see it': 'Humbug' sign removed from Winnipeg brewery, set to move to new location
A Winnipeg brewery says the 'Humbug' sign that it put up on its roof just a few days ago needed to come down.
-
Winnipeg police arrest man for sexual assault, interference
A 42-year-old man is facing charges of sexual assault and sexual interference following a lengthy investigation by the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) that began last year.
Saskatoon
-
'Crawling along like turtles': Saskatoon councillors extend budget discussions to Friday
After hours of debate, Saskatoon city councillors found $2.7 million in savings on Thursday.
-
Saskatoon credit union closure prompts calls for more community policing
Community leaders are reacting to the announcement that the St. Mary's Affinity Credit Union will be closing down due to safety concerns.
-
This Saskatoon man just turned 104 years old and he still likes to boogie
A Saskatoon man is celebrating a remarkable milestone this week as he turns 104 years old. With a life that has spanned over ten decades, Nick Kazuska is still going strong.
Regina
-
REAL ex-chair claims Regina councillors ignored organization, often asked for free event tickets
Former chair of the Regina Exhibition Association Limited (REAL) board of directors, Wayne Morsky, has spoken out for the first time since being removed by city council last week.
-
SHA memo reveals critical care bypasses in four cities across Saskatchewan
Internal Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) documents obtained by the provincial NDP show that four of the province's major hospitals were subject to critical care bypasses on Nov. 29.
-
Local pharmacy hosts second ID clinic to help houseless residents access services
The Queen City Wellness Pharmacy held their second ID clinic Thursday afternoon at the Heritage Community Association.
Atlantic
-
Human remains found in Cape Breton those of missing woman, death being investigated as homicide
Police say human remains found in Big Bras D’Or, N.S., belong to a woman who was reported missing last week. Her death is now being investigated as a homicide.
-
2023 Atlantic hurricane season ends; finishes 4th for most-named storms
The 2023 Atlantic hurricane season comes to an end on Thursday as the fourth
-
Man rescued from Moncton garbage truck ‘lucky to be alive’
A man who fell into a Moncton garbage truck was rescued Wednesday morning.
London
-
No one was injured in reported downtown dumpster fire
Emergency crews attended the scene of a reported dumpster fire in downtown London, Ont.
-
London police continue investigation into pedestrian’s death
Police are still searching for a second vehicle involved in a crash that killed a pedestrian earlier this month.
-
Crowds 'flock' to Chick-fil-A opening in London, Ont.
London’s first Chick-fil-A location is now open on Wonderland Road South.
Northern Ontario
-
One person in custody after three people stabbed in Sudbury on Thursday
A 34-year-old suspect is in custody after three people received serious but not life-threatening injuries in a stabbing attack late Thursday morning in Sudbury.
-
Final day for employees at Domtar pulp mill in Espanola, Ont.
Thursday was the final day of work for employees on the pulp side of Domtar’s pulp and paper mill in Espanola.
-
Man who committed four murders in the Sault found with rifle, revolver, police say
Bobbie Halleart, the man who shot and killed his three children and a 41-year-old woman Oct. 23 in the Sault, was found with a .38 calibre revolver and a rifle, police said Thursday.
Kitchener
-
'That could have been my home': Residents call for action after attempted arson at Waterloo apartment
A 21-year-old woman was arrested after allegedly attempting to set a fire inside a Waterloo apartment building.
-
Brazen break-in at Kitchener restaurant caught on camera
A Kitchener restaurant says thieves broke into their business not once – but three times – on the same night.
-
Man charged with stealing kitten from Waterloo pet store
A Waterloo man has been arrested for allegedly stealing a kitten from a Waterloo pet store. However Crosby, the 10-week-old cat, is still missing.
