I thought when the Lotto 6/49 ticket price was increased to $2 the jackpot was guaranteed to be a minimum of $4 million. Why are we now seeing jackpots of $3.5 million?
Lotto 6/49 jackpot estimates are determined by the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation (ILC), which operates this national game. BCLC is a member of ILC and is responsible for marketing Lotto 6/49 within B.C. Lotto 6/49 jackpot estimates are based on projected sales and payout for the upcoming draw. As with any lottery product, sales can fluctuate. Providing the most accurate jackpot estimates possible is part of our commitment to offering fair lottery games and allows our players to make an informed decision regarding their gaming choices. When the changes were made to Lotto 6/49 in 2004, we anticipated jackpots would start out around an estimated $4 million, based on sales patterns at that time. However, ILC has found national sales for Wednesday draws tend to be lower than for Saturday draws, so jackpot estimates have been $3.5 million for Wednesday draws and $4 million for Saturday draws.
