Lotto 649 Exposed — Playing It for Years!
Lotto 649 Review
Years ago, I would have hesitated recommending Canada’s Lotto 6/49 for jackpots. With the strengthening of the Canadian dollar, this is one very attractive lottery. Okay – I admit it. This is one that I’ve been playing for years. I haven’t hit the big jackpot yet but have won enough to fund my play, plus picked up a few trinkets along the way. Admittedly, my new Calloway Black RAZR golf clubs are not considered a trinket, but they do make me smile.
Can Lotto 649 be played through 24Lottos?
Wednesday and Saturday – Try Your Luck at 649 Lotto
Canada’s Lotto 6/49 is played bi-weekly, Wednesday and Saturday. Players chose six numbers from 1 to 49 using their favorite, lucky or regular numbers. The quick pick is also available where the computer randomly selects six numbers. The big jackpot is won by choosing the six numbers drawn. The second prize pays out for five correct numbers and the bonus. The bonus ball is drawn from the same 1 to 49 numbers.
Multiple winners share the prizes at all levels except nailing 3 numbers out of 6 ($10) and 2 numbers out of six with the bonus number ($5). It’s a rollover jackpot that starts at CDN $3 million and grows.
Lotto Numbers 649
All prizes – yes, that includes the big jackpot, are paid out in full and considered by the Canadian government as tax-free. If you are an international player, you might have tax considerations in your own country.
| Prize Divisions | Numbers Matched | Odds of Winning |
| Division 1 | 6/6 | 1 in 13,983,816 |
| Division 2 | 5/6 + Bonus | 1 in 2,330,636 |
| Division 3 | 5/6 | 1 in 55,492 |
| Division 4 | 4/6 | 1 in 1,033 |
| Division 5 | 3/6 | 1 in 57 |
| Division 6 | 2/6 + Bonus | 1 in 81 |
But I’m Not Canadian!
Anyone can play Lotto 6/49, and this is underlined by the fact they have a special page supplying the correct form for non-Canadians to claim their winnings. Anything under $1,000 can be claimed directly from a retailer. Anything over $1,000 has to be claimed at the specific provincial head office. Lotto 6/49 must be claimed in the province the ticket was issued.
Who Is Lotto 649?
This lottery is officially run under the rules and regulations of the International Lottery Corporation. Each province has its own Corporation for operating the Lotto 6/49, owned by the province. The rules and regulations are obvious and straightforward in nice simple English.
Lotto 6/49’s Customer Service
I’m not sure why anyone would contact Lotto 6/49. Still, they offer local telephone numbers (which can be dialed internationally), a free call telephone number, a snail mail address, and an online form. Their provincial websites have everything most players would need to learn, including the forms to claim their big jackpot. Of course, if you are an international player, most good concierge lottery services will have those forms for you.
You’ve Won – Whoops, it’s a Scam
Lotto 6/49, like so many well-respected lotteries worldwide, has experienced the usual scams that arrive by regular mail or email. These scam artists claim that you’ve won but require taxes and/or service fees are paid upfront. Some of them also include a check (deducted from your winnings) to help pay for taxes, though you have to send it through Wal-Mart (go figure) back to them. Of course, the check bounces. Just remember, if you haven’t bought a ticket, then you can’t win.
Newsflash at 6/49 Lotto
On the 15th of September 2013, Lotto 6/49 changed its prize format. They added a new free play prize simply by matching just 2 numbers. More importantly, they added a new unique number with each lottery line played for an additional draw of CDN $1 million. This draw is guaranteed to be awarded each draw – that’s twice a week. With these two changes, Lotto 6/49 claims the overall odds also changed from 1 in 32 to 1 in 7.
Why You Shouldn’t Play Lotto 649
Pros:
Big Jackpots
Biweekly
Tax-Free
Official Lottery
Why You Shouldn’t Play Lotto 649
Cons:
Currency Fluctuations
Going To Canada to Get My Big Jackpot
Is Lotto 649 Legit?
This was a hard one to investigate and review as I’ve been playing it for years. Okay – I admit it – I’m biased. But it was a great exercise to go in and look at it from the perspective of someone who had never played.
I like the $1 million new prize tier Lotto 649 is offering that is won every draw. I would have wanted to be the winner of the $17 million paid out in April, but I am still confident I will get my turn to nail that big jackpot. Overall, Lotto 649 is very legit.
Huguette Kihl
The odds of drawing all 29 white balls out of a 30 ball urn, leaving the one single gold ball as the sole survivor for the 30th draw (next Wednesday)… are astronomical, too incalculable to compute in this day and age!
I believe there is a very simple explanation and “it ain’t kosher”: the Gold Ball is of a different weight… most probably lighter than the white ones so as not to drop as easily (out of the whirlwind we see during the Official Draw) into the designated hole for selected ones. Will someone please WEIGH the balls and reassure us if I’m wrong?
Richard Poole
The new format is terrible. I don’t believe the gold ball format is legitimate and is being manipulated by 649. Go back to old once a week jackpot that grows if not claimed.
Razor Lenfesty
This RNG Random Number Generator for the Lotto needs to be scrapped and go back to the televised Ball drop! Here we are 2 balls left out of 30 on the Gold Ball! Wow! 1 white and 1 gold, RNG Really Not Good! I got a $7 Quick pick 649 ticket with all six numbers Identical on the two sets of numbers! This is not right at all, Not Fair, Scam! This RNG should be investigated fully as a possibility there could be a number lockout where certain numbers will be generated more frequently and other numbers may not be drawn at all! Prize payouts are all over the place! Up and Down! It’s like what ever they feel like giving out! Not Happy with this RNG Lottery System at all!
Ray Calder
I’ve been running various lottery groups for 30 years. The new 649 Gold Ball setup is a total waste of my time. I am shutting down this current group of 23 people as soon as this gold ball draw is won.
John Balance
There is no explanation of how the 10 digit number is selected. A white or gold ball is drawn but how is the winning number drawn? The open transparency of number selection has vanished.