Last updated October 12, 2026
Yes, you can buy lottery tickets online in every Canadian province. You buy them from your own province's official lottery, on its website or app, and you have to be in that province when you buy.
Where to buy online, by province
| Province or territory | Official place to buy online | Minimum age |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | OLG.ca ↗ and the OLG app | 18 |
| Quebec | Loto-Québec ↗ website and app | 18 |
| British Columbia | PlayNow.com ↗ | 19 |
| Alberta | PlayAlberta.ca ↗ or the Lotto Spot app ↗ | 18 |
| Saskatchewan | Lotto Spot app ↗ | 18 |
| Manitoba | PlayNow.com ↗ or the Lotto Spot app ↗ | 18 |
| New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, Newfoundland and Labrador | ALC.ca ↗ and the ALC app | 19 |
| Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut | Lotto Spot app ↗, where available | 18 |
Lotto Spot is the app of the Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC). Not every game is offered on every platform, and some communities in the Northwest Territories don't allow lottery sales. Check your lottery's website for what's available where you live. Information as of October 12, 2026.
The rules for playing online
- You must be in the province. Lottery websites and apps check your location when you buy. You can't buy Ontario tickets online from Quebec, or from outside Canada, even if you live in Ontario.
- You need an account. You'll register with your name, address and date of birth, and the lottery verifies your identity and age.
- You must be old enough: 18 or 19, depending on your province (see the table). Some lotteries set a higher age for their online casino games than for lottery tickets.
- You pay from your account, usually by debit or credit card, or by bank transfer. Each lottery lists the payment methods it accepts.
Which games can you play online?
The national games, Lotto Max, Lotto 6/49 and Daily Grand, are sold online in most provinces, usually along with the regional draw games and add-ons like Encore, Extra and Tag. Many lotteries also offer subscriptions, so you can play the same numbers automatically for weeks or months, and online instant games.
Hospital and charity lotteries are mostly sold online, through each lottery's own website, and usually only to people in that province. See every hospital and charity lottery, with prizes, odds and ticket deadlines.
Online vs. buying at a store
| Online | At a store | |
|---|---|---|
| Odds and prizes | The same | The same |
| Your ticket | Saved in your account, so it can't be lost or damaged | A paper ticket you need to keep safe |
| Checking for wins | Checked automatically, and you're notified | Check it yourself at a store, online or in the app |
| Who can buy | Registered players in the province | Anyone old enough, including visitors |
How online prizes are paid
Your online tickets are checked automatically after each draw. Smaller prizes are usually paid straight into your lottery account, and you can withdraw the money to your bank. Large prizes are claimed through the lottery, much like a paper ticket. Some app tickets, like Lotto Spot's, are cashed in at a lottery retailer. Our guide to claiming a prize has the details for each province. And whichever way you play, lottery winnings aren't taxed in Canada.
Visiting, travelling or living outside Canada
Because you have to be physically in the province to buy online, visitors and Canadians living abroad can't buy tickets online. Visitors can buy paper tickets at any lottery retailer while they're in Canada. If you win, you'll need to claim the prize in the province where you bought the ticket.
Sites to avoid
Only your provincial lottery is authorized to sell its tickets online. Be careful with:
- Ticket-buying services and "lottery messenger" sites that offer to buy Canadian tickets for you, often from overseas. They aren't connected to Canada's lotteries, and the official lotteries' rules say who can claim a prize.
- "You've won" messages. If you get an email, text or call saying you've won a lottery you didn't enter, or asking you to pay a fee to collect a prize, it's a scam. Real lotteries never ask winners to pay to receive a prize.
- Look-alike websites. Check the web address before you sign in or pay. Use the links in the table above, or your lottery's official app.
Play responsibly
Online play makes it easy to spend more than you planned. Every official lottery lets you set deposit and spending limits, take a break, or close your account. If gambling stops being fun, free and confidential help is available in every province.