Biggest jackpot in Lotto 6/49 history could be won on Saturday
The biggest Lotto 6/49 jackpot in history could be won in the game’s next draw on Saturday.
The Gold Ball jackpot stands at $66 million, the largest jackpot in 6/49 history, either before or after changes were made to the way the game is played in 2022.
The cla*sic jackpot, meanwhile, remains set at $5 million.
The Lotto 6/49 format changed in September 2022, with the main “cla*sic draw” – where players select their numbers or choose a quick pick – set at a jackpot of $5 million.
The guaranteed prize of one million dollars has become the draw for the Ballon d’Or.
The Gold Ball drawing guarantees that a winner will take home either $1 million or an increasing jackpot that starts at $10 million and can reach $68 million.
“We have 29 white balls, each representing the guaranteed prize of $1 million, and one gold ball, representing the increasing jackpot, in the drawing,” explained OLG spokesperson Tony Bitonti.
“If a white ball is drawn, the guaranteed prize of one million dollars is won. This ball is removed, leaving 28 white balls and one gold ball for the next drawing, and the jackpot increases by $2 million.
This process continues until the golden ball is drawn.
There are currently one white ball and one gold ball remaining. The Golden Ball draw could take place on Saturday, meaning someone would win $66 million.
If the drawing is not made on Saturday and someone wins the $1 million prize, the Golden Ball jackpot will reach $68 million and someone will be guaranteed to win that prize on Wednesday the 27th. september.
“We’ve never been able to say this before – so it will be historic for this lottery game,” Bitonti said.
“With Lotto Max, which has a jackpot capped at $70 million, we can’t say when the jackpot will be won, but with 6/49 we can guarantee that someone will win the jackpot if we reach $68 million of dollars.”
The previous record for a Lotto 6/49 golden ball jackpot was $64 million. Earlier this year, a ticket purchased in New Brunswick won this award.
Prior to the 2022 changes, a $64 million 6/49 jackpot was won by a woman from Mississauga, Ontario on October 17, 2015.
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