History

The Evolution of Loto-Québec’s Lottery Products

1969 – 1979

1969

La Société d’exploitation des loteries et courses du Québec (Loto-Québec) becomes the first lottery corporation created in Canada. It is the third of its kind in North America.

1970

On March 14, Loto-Québec carries out its first draw: Inter‑Loto, a passive $2 lottery with a grand prize of $125,000.

Followed by:

• La Mini, a weekly $0.50 lottery. The draw takes place on June 5.
• La Super, a $4 quarterly lottery.

1972

Loto-Perfecta is launched, thanks to the installation of a mechanical system for registering wagers. The results of the lottery are determined by horse races.

1973

The federal parliament authorizes the promotion of a Canadian Olympic lottery, which takes place in 1976 at the Loto-Canada games.

1974

For the first time, an event sponsored by Loto-Québec appears on a ticket for La Mini, namely Les 24 heures de La Tuque.

1976

A Super-Loto draw leads to the Corporation’s first-ever payment of a $1 million grand prize.

1977

In June, Loto-Québec launches "the lottery for Quebecers," its first ever scratch ticket.

1978

Making use of technological developments, Loto-Québec equips itself with computers and terminals to operate lotteries in real time, which is how the 6/36 becomes computerized.

Loto-Québec concedes the sale of lottery tickets and subscriptions, Lotomatique, to kiosks run by non-profit organizations.

Loto-Québec and the Atlantic provinces join the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation. From then on, the Provincial lottery game is sold coast to coast.

1979

La Quotidienne, a game with a three-digit number, appears on September 10.

1980 – 1989

1980

A four-digit variation of La Quotidienne holds draws each week under the name of Loto-Sélect.

1982

Lotto 6/49, the first Canada-wide game sold by terminal, is offered weekly to consumers. The guaranteed grand prize rises to $500,000. The first draw takes place on June 12.

Loto-Québec takes on the role of Secretary for the International Association of State Lotteries (IASL), known today as the World Lottery Association (WLA).

1983

La Mini and Inter tickets are produced by computer, a new technique that offers security advantages.

1984

The national fervour generated by the accumulation of a grand prize of close to $14 million makes Lotto 6/49 the most popular game in Canada.

1985

Lotto 6/49 becomes bi-weekly.

1986

During the 1986-1987 fiscal year, scratch tickets post record sales. Eight products are launched, reaching sales of $132.6 million.

1987

The 6/36 lottery is replaced by Sélect 42 and Inter becomes Inter plus.

1988

The first lottery to take place in front of a television audience is launched. It is called Roue de Fortune.

Super-Loto makes way for Spécial 88, the first high-end lottery conceived in cooperation with other provincial lottery corporations.

1989

Loto-Québec is inspired by Keno to create Banco, a $1 lottery with tri-weekly draws. First draw: September 15. Starting in 1993, this becomes a daily lottery.

1990 – 1999

1990

In October, Loto-Québec launches Mise-o-jeu, its first lottery involving wagering on sporting events.

On April 4, the first-ever Extra draw takes place. It is twinned with Sélect 42 and Lotto 6/49.

1991

A world first: launch of Loto-Quiz, an interactive televised game that can be won on television or from home.

1993

In May, Loto-Bingo is offered to consumers. This becomes the first scratch ticket continuously available from retailers.

Loto-Québec gives an interactive dimension to a popular 1960s television show by creating  La Poule aux œufs d’or, a $2 lottery.

1994

In June, a new online game is offered to consumers: Super 7.

The biggest grand prize ever won is claimed in Québec. A group from Saint-Wenceslas wins $19 million.

On September 29, a second sports lottery, named Total, is launched.

1995

To mark its twenty-fifth anniversary, Loto-Québec creates “la loterie du 25^e anniversaire” which culminates in a televised gala-draw in November.

1996

Internet users can obtain draw results from the corporation’s Web site.

1997

In October, Québec 49, a new online game, replaces Sélect 42.

1999

A Montréal-area resident wins $20 million on the Super 7 draw. This is the largest grand prize ever paid out by Loto-Québec to that day.

From 2000 until today

2000

Lotomatique is overhauled from the bottom up. This subscription service allows consumers to participate in Lotto 6/49, Super 7, Québec 49 and multiple Extra numbers.

World first: in February, Loto-Québec launches Trésors de la Tour™ a lottery played with the help of a CD-ROM. This lottery was conceived and developed by Loto-Québec subsidiary Ingenio.

2001

April launch of Banco spécial, a terminal-based game offering a grand prize of $1 million and the possibility of winning without a single right number.

2002

Four winners, including two from Québec, share a record prize of $37.8 million won during the Super 7 draw on May 17.

2003

L'Ours chanceux, a new weekly terminal-based lottery, is launched on September 8.

September 25: Pronostik, a jackpot driven sports lottery, is launched.

On October 3^rd, a Laval resident wins the largest prize for a single winning combination awarded to that day by Loto-Québec: $25,418,690.

2004

The new Lotto 6/49 is launched on May 30.

2005-2006

Joker, a new terminal based-lottery, appeared on August 29, 2005.

The addition of Prédictions to the sports betting family.

The commemoration of Loto-Québec's 35^th anniversary through the sale of Collection Souvenir packs containing three sets of collector tickets evocative of years gone by, along with the production of a television program entitled "35 ans, ça change le monde".

Cyberslingo, the first product to offer a scratch game and access code for a Web-based multimedia game on the same ticket.

Vlan! was ranked as being among the best five new scratch ticket in North America at the annual convention of the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL) held in Minneapolis in September 2005.

A milestone was reached in autumn 2005, when the Lotto 6/49 jackpot climbed to a record high of $54.3 million.

In 2005-2006, the weekly edition of La Poule aux œufs d'or surpassed the $100 million mark in prizes paid out on TV since the game was introduced in 1993.

On January 9, 2006, Loto-Québec launched Astro a new lottery that lets players wager on dates.

Three new scratch tickets inspired by well-known games of the same names — Clue, Texas Hold'em Poker and Tetris.

The Québec advertising industry earned Lotto 6/49's "Always be nice" campaign two Gold Roosters and two Créa awards. The Canadian industry also awarded the campaign a silver Cassies.

On April 28, 2006, a Québecer from Saint-Félix-de-Valois walked away with a $30 million Super 7 jackpot, thus becoming the biggest winner in the history of all the Corporation's lotteries.

2007

Lotto 6/49 turns 25. Over $6 billion in prizes have been awarded to lucky Quebecers!

2008

The Célébration lottery celebrates its 20th anniversary.

2009

Super 7 pays out a $21 million jackpot in its final draw.

In collaboration with the other provincial lottery corporations, Loto-Québec launches Lotto Max.

On November 6, Lotto Max offers the biggest prize pool in the history of Canadian lotteries. Over and above the $50 million jackpot, Lotto Max pays outs 10 additional prizes of $1 million each, called Maxmillions.

2010

On June 25th, Lotto Max offers the largest combined jackpot ever announced by Loto-Québec. In addition to its $50 million jackpot, Lotto Max sweetens the pot with 49 more million-dollar jackpots, called Maxmillions.

On August 20th, Loto-Québec pays out a Lotto Max jackpot of approximately $37.6 million, the biggest prize ever won by a Québec resident.

The government authorizes the Société des loteries du Québec to offer online gaming.

On June 30, Loto-Québec presented its last televised draws. These draws may now be viewed directly on the Video zone website. Additionally, and in a perspective of sustainable development, Loto-Québec has decided to cancel the weekly magazine, Loto-hebdo. Information on our big winners is now available in the Our winners section.

2011

On May 2^nd, Loto-Québec launches Lotto Poker.