LOTTO MAX launches

New Canadian national lottery game now available for play

TORONTO , Sept. 17 /CNW/ - Canada's new national weekly lottery - LOTTO MAX - officially launches Saturday, September 19 2009 , with the first day of ticket sales from coast to coast. The first LOTTO MAX draw will be held in one week, on Friday, September 25 with a $10 million jackpot. In Ontario, LOTTO MAX can be played at OLG retail locations across the province.

As announced on behalf of Canada's five regional lottery corporations by the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation (ILC) on July 15 2009, LOTTO MAX will offer big jackpots more frequently than any game before. And for the first time ever with a Canadian lottery, this newest introduction to the national lottery line-up will offer special additional prizes of $1 million each once the jackpot reaches $50 million .

The LOTTO MAX jackpot is expected to hit the $50 million mark five or more times per year, and will then kick into MAXMILLIONS mode: the jackpot will remain at $50 million with top-prize money then being allocated to a series of additional MAXMILLIONS prizes each worth $1 million , and each with its own individual draw and set of winning numbers.

    
    Game details:
    -  Draws will be held on Friday nights, starting with the first draw on
       September 25
    -  Players will receive three chances to win (seven numbers each) per $5
       play
    -  In order to win the jackpot, players must match 7/7 numbers (from one
       to 49)
    -  Odds of winning a jackpot are one in 28.6 million per play
    -  Odds of winning any prize are one in 6.6 per play
    -  If a jackpot is not won it will "roll" to the next draw date, with
       MAXMILLIONS prizes created after the $50 million mark is reached
    -  Jackpots start at $10 million and will grow until won or until
       reaching $50 million
    

OLG is a provincial agency responsible for province-wide lottery games and gaming facilities. Since 1975, OLG lotteries, Casinos, Slots, and Resort Casinos have generated more than $28 billion for the benefit of the Province of Ontario. Gaming proceeds support Ontario's hospitals, amateur sport, recreational and cultural activities, communities, provincial priority programs such as health care and education, and local and provincial charities and non-profit organizations through the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

The Interprovincial Lottery Corporation (ILC) was established by the provincial lottery organizations in 1976 to operate joint lottery games across Canada . ILC headquarters are located in Toronto , Ontario.

    
                       Know your limit, play within it!

             THE ONTARIO PROBLEM GAMBLING HELPLINE 1-888-230-3505
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For further information: Media Contact: OLG Media Relations, [phone], www.OLG.ca