Lotto 649 Celebrates 30 Years in Canada
The Interprovincial Lottery Corporation (ILC), representing five provincial lottery commissions in Canada, and operating lottery games across the country, put out a press release this week on the 30th anniversary of one the most popular lotteries, Lotto 649.
According to the ILC, Lotto 6/49's performance has been "simply spectacular", with overall sales of $52 billion and prizes above $24 billion paid out since June 12, 1982, and a total of 3,119 Lotto 649 jackpot winners since then.
Said the president of the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation, Robert Ayotte, "Lotto 649 is a true reflection of the popularity and growth of Canadian lotteries over the past 30 years. Just about every Canadian has played Lotto 649 and winners have come from all regions, from the smallest to the biggest communities," said Ayotte.
Lotto 649 Milestone Anniversary Celebrated
Lotto 649 is celebrating 30 years in the business with a number of special promotions, including three bonus draws of $100,000 each during all draws up to June 30th.
Lotto 649 grew at incredible speed from the time it launched. "In December 1983 and January 1984, a series of draws without a 6/6 winner created an unprecedented frenzy: everywhere in the country, the record jackpot was the topic of conversations, and the media gave it major coverage," recalls the ILC in its press release.
The win which put the Lotto 649 on the map, however, was the draw which took place on January 14th, 1984 when 11 million out of Canada's then 18 million adults took part. An Ontario couple went on to win $13,890,588.
Other milestones included a $24 million jackpot in 1995 which produced sales of $81 million over three days, as well as the biggest prize paid out by a Canadian lottery in 2005, when 17 workers in Alberta won $54.3 million.
Lotto 649 Benefits the Public
According to the ILC, the billions collected by Lotto 649 have "financed a great range of programs benefitting communities".
With overall sales of $52 billion over the past 30 years, there is no describing the incredible impact that this lottery has had on charity groups, youth organizations, the arts and provincial projects.
"Lotto 649 owes its success to the unfailing support of the Canadian public," said the ILC. "The recipe for success is simple: an easy to play game, appealing jackpots and a range of secondary prizes."
