As part of the Western Canada Lottery Corporation, Saskatchewan gets the best of national draws, Western province draws and Zing Scratch ‘N Win games. The biggest prizes come via the national draws. You can play Lotto Max, the Lotto 6/49, and the Daily Grand via subscriptions or from retail outlets. Western Max and Western 6/49 have big prizes for players in SK, AB, and MB.
While there are no casino or poker games available via the WCLC portal, you can bet on sports or enjoy second chance games from selected retail scratch card tickets.
Everything you need to get the best from lottery games in Saskatchewan can be found on this page. You will find an overview of how the lottery works and the features of the website below. After that, the big money national and international draws are covered — along with the other Saskatchewan gambling options.
How the Saskatchewan Lottery works
There are multiple ways of entering the lottery draws in SK. The oldest and most popular is to head to a retail outlet. You can enter the draws, buy scratch cards — or try your hand at instant pick games there. Alternatively, head to WCLC.com and subscribe. You can do this online, via the phone, or even using the mail. You can request that notifications of your wins get e-mailed to you will ensure you never accidentally miss a win.
The WCLC portal has additional benefits. You can use this to enter pooled lottery purchases — for example with your co-workers or friends. There are second-chance games, contests, and information on responsible gambling is available.
Formed in 1982, the Western Canada Lottery Corporation covers games for Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta. Originally, British Columbia was part of this association. They left in 1985 to go it alone.
Over the years there have been many big lottery winners in Saskatchewan. This includes a winner of the biggest draw of all — Lotto Max — in 2016.
Here are the games available on the SK Lottery:
- National lottery draws: Lotto Max, Lotto 6/49, and the Daily Grand.
- Western Canada draws: Western Max, Western 6/49, and daily picks/keno games.
- Zing Scratch ‘N Win: These scratch cards range in price from $1 to $30.
- E-Play scratch tickets: A subset of the scratch cards have 2nd chance online games.
- Sports select: Access this sports betting system via the WCLC website.
Multi-Provincial draws on the Saskatchewan Lottery
The biggest national lottery games can be played in Saskatchewan. With jackpots regularly hitting the 10-figure range, these are the most popular games nationwide. Here is how each game works:
- Lotto Max: This draw takes place every Tuesday and Friday at 9:30 CST. You get three sets of seven numbers between 1 and 50. You can choose the first set with the terminal generating the others, or let the terminal randomly generate all three sets. The cost for these three selections is $5 and if you are lucky enough to match all seven numbers you win the jackpot. This starts at $10 million but can rise to $70 million. Match three of seven numbers to win a free ticket, with other prizes in-between. A player from Saskatchewan won the Lotto Max in August 2016 — hitting the province’s largest-ever win of $60 million.
- Lotto 6/49: As the name of this game implies, you get six numbers between 1 and 49. This national draw costs $3 to enter. You get one number selection, plus a unique ten-digit guaranteed prize draw entry number. To win the lottery jackpot you must match all six of the numbers. The jackpot starts at $5 million — and the largest ever win was a giant $64 million. Match two out of six numbers to get a free ticket, with prizes increasing right up to the jackpot as you match more numbers. The ten-digit number you receive gives you the chance of winning the $1 million that is paid out to one lucky winner every draw. The Lotto 6/49 draws take place bi-weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays just after 9:30 p.m. CST. In February 2010, a couple from Carrot River, Saskatchewan, won $20 million playing the Lotto 6/49.
- The Daily Grand: To enter the Daily Grand, you pick five numbers between 1 and 49 and then one Grand Number between 1 and 7. Tickets cost $3. If you’re lucky enough to match your initial five numbers and the Grand number, you win $1,000 a day for the rest of your life. There is an alternative of an instant $7 million if you prefer. If you can match the five numbers without the Grand Number, the prize is $25,000 a year for life. Prizes start with a free ticket if you match the Grand Number only. The Daily Grand draw takes place bi-weekly on Mondays and Thursdays just after 9:30 p.m. CST.
SK Lottery: draws across the WCLC Provinces
In addition to the national draws listed above, several draws operate only in the Western provinces that are part of the WCLC. To win, you need to buy tickets in Saskatchewan, Alberta, or Manitoba. Here are details of the draws:
- Western Max: This draw is directly modelled on the Lotto Max. Players pick seven numbers between 1 and 50. Having picked one selection, the lottery terminal will randomly choose two more selections. Tickets cost $2. The top prize for this draw is $2 million. There are fourteen added chances to win $1 million in the draw. Western Max draws are held every Tuesday and Friday.
- Western 6/49: Tickets for this draw cost just $1. Players get a six-number selection between 1 and 49. Match all six numbers to win the top prize of $2 million. Draws take place on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
- Pick games: In Saskatchewan, you can also play one of 3 daily pick games — Pick 2, Pick 3, or Pick 4. Each game offers different ways to win and you can play a choice of stakes. The Pick 3, as an example, sees you pick three numbers between 0 and 9. If all three match in the correct order, you win $500 (the minimum ticket cost is $1). The largest win possible in the pick games is $10,000 and is yours if you play the Pick 4 and match all four numbers in the correct order.
- Extra numbers: In any of the draws listed above (both the national games and those offered in the WCLC region) you have the option of purchasing an ‘Extra’ number. This will cost $1 and give you the opportunity to win a top prize of $250,000 and the second prize of $100,000.
Drawing schedule of the Saskatchewan Lottery
Draws run throughout the week, with only Sunday not having a shot at a million+ prize pool. Draws take place at 9:30 p.m. CST each evening:
- Monday: Daily Grand
- Tuesday: Lotto Max, Western Max
- Wednesday: Lotto 6/49, Western 6/49
- Thursday: Daily Grand
- Friday: Lotto Max, Western Max
- Saturday: Lotto 6/49, Western 6/49
Keno games on the SK Lottery
For players looking for flexibility, without the need to wait for an evening draw, keno makes a great alternative. You get to choose how many numbers you want to play — with between one and ten picks for each round. There are flexible bet sizes too — with the default being $1, $2, $5, and $10.
The keno prizes can be big — and are based on how many picks you made and how many numbers you match. The top prize is $100,000 if you choose 10 numbers and all 10 are selected. Keno draws are held every five minutes.
Lottery scratch cards in Saskatchewan
As well as playing the lottery, residents of Saskatchewan can also enjoy a range of scratch cards. These are called Zing (Scratch ’N Win) tickets. At any one time, there are up to 50 different games available. They change regularly, with seasonal and one-off ranges appearing at different times of the year. Zing tickets cost anywhere from $1 to $30.
The prizes for scratch cards can be huge. For example, the Triple Millions scratch card ($30) offers ten prizes of $3 million and a total prize fund of $250 million. Each of these cards features four different winning opportunities and you can win up to 3 times on any one card.
If you are looking at playing a big money jackpot scratch card, you can do some research on the Saskatchewan lottery site. Here information on how many jackpots are left at every prize level is listed. If there are two similar jackpot scratch cards, and on one there are 10 jackpot prizes still out there, while another only has one big prize left, it makes sense to play the first one.
Here are some examples of scratch cards available in Saskatchewan:
- Lotto Moji: This card costs $1 — it gives you the chance of winning $10,000. Simply scratch off the six emoji symbols and if you reveal three matching amounts you win that prize. Uncover a star symbol and win an instant $5. As well as the top prize, you can also win $1,000, $100, and smaller prizes.
- The Price is Right: Based on the popular game show, this $5 scratch card offers the chance of winning up to $100,000 ($10,000, $5,000, $1,000, and $500 prizes can also be won). Scratch the play area and if any of your numbers match the target number, you win the corresponding prize below. There are six separate chances to win when playing this card.
- Spin games: There are two ‘spin’ scratch cards — ‘The Big Spin’ and ‘The Bigger Spin’. Scratch the play area to see if you have won. As well as the regular cash prizes, you can also land a ‘Spin Win’. Take this to the retailer and once the ticket has been checked, an animated spinning wheel will appear on the terminal. If you land a Big Spin win this time around, you will be guaranteed $10,000 and have a chance at landing the jackpot prizes of $500,000 and $1 million.
Some scratch cards will also offer an added ‘E-Play’ option. Purchase the ticket as usual at a retailer, and as well as the standard games on the card, there is an added E-play game. Either scan the revealed QR code or enter the E-play access code to enjoy the second chance game online — and possibly win big prizes.
Sports picks via the lottery in Saskatchewan
Sports betting in Saskatchewan is available through the lottery under the ‘Sports Select’ option. There are several ways you can get involved in sports betting action.
- Pro-Line: Pick either the visitor, the home team, or the tie (at Sports select, if a game is tied at the end of regulation time, it is considered a tie).
- Over/Under: Here you’ll pick whether the total amount of points in a game is over or under a stated number.
- Point Spread: With this option, the favoured team is given a point reduction, to even up the odds and make the contest 50-50.
- Pools: Make your home/visitor selection on a game and enter a pool with other players. The fewer people who predict correctly, the more money you win.
- Props: These are picks within a game. For example, you can pick one football player to score more points or gain more yards in a game than another.
At ‘Sport Select’ you can wager any amount between $2 and $100 and see your potential prize when making your pick.
History of the lottery in Saskatchewan
The first-ever lottery in Saskatchewan took place in 1973, named the Saskatchewan Sweepstakes Lottery, with the proceeds aiding sport, culture, and recreation. Some of the first games offered were the ‘Western Express’ and ‘The Provincial’.
The first electronic game, Lotto 6/49, was introduced in 1982. Saskatchewan Lotteries is a member of both the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation and the Western Canada Lottery Corporation. The former allows players in the province to take part in the large inter-provincial national games, while the latter gives players the chance to win the regionalized prizes in Western Canada. All the net profits generated by sales of tickets in Saskatchewan, stay in the province.
The biggest ever winner in Saskatchewan was Mary Wernicke, from Neville. She landed a $60 million win in August 2016. Wernicke picked up a $5 pick ticket from a drug store. For five days, Wernicke didn’t know she was a winner. It was only on heading back to the drug store that she found out she had won.
“The lottery terminal made a different sound than I’m used to hearing. She looked at the ticket, then looked at me and said, ‘You’re the big winner.‘
Responsible gaming in Saskatchewan
For gambling to exist in any format, protecting players that are prone to problem gambling behaviour is vital. You will find a page containing links and phone numbers where assistance is available via the WCLC website. There is a link to the Saskatchwean.ca government portal — where a directory of problem gambling services is located.
You will also find facts about lottery gambling, and phone numbers for both regional and national assistance services.
Saskatchewan lotteries
There is no shortage of ways to enjoy the lottery in Saskatchewan. You can enter the national draws for life-changing prize money, try the Western province draws, or enter smaller keno or pick contests running every day.
Zing Scratch ‘N Win cards come in colourful and often quirky themes. You will be able to see how many of the biggest prizes are left for each type, via the WCLC website. While there are no online casino options at the Saskatchewan lottery portal, many cards have second chance online games with real money prizes.
Check out the latest prizes for the big draws, and see the ticket subscription options, over on the WCLC lottery portal now!