Have you noticed more people in BC, and on Vancouver Island in particular, have been winning the lotto more often than before?
Recent research has unveiled that British Columbia is the sixth luckiest region in the country when it comes to lottery wins.
The report by Datslots, delved into lottery winnings exceeding $10,000 over the past year, painting a picture of Canada’s lottery landscape.
“Canada’s national lottery schemes have handed over $1.6 billion in big wins over the last 12 months, with players in Nunavut proving the luckiest in the country,” read the report.
“Interestingly, Canada’s three most populated regions fail to rank among the three luckiest areas for lottery players. Two of the smallest regions in Canada also performed poorly in the study, with mid-size regions like Alberta and Manitoba seemingly having some of the best luck.”
Despite a notable surge in wins totaling over $646 million, positioning Ontario with the largest total winnings, British Columbia lands in sixth place.
With an average winning amount of $38,547 per 1,000 residents, the province showcases a mix of fortunes among its lottery players.
Notably, the region experienced a significant windfall earlier in the year when a Sidney resident clinched a historic prize for Vancouver Island, a $55-million jackpot.
Nunavut emerges as the pinnacle of lottery luck, boasting the highest average winnings of $172,473 per 1,000 individuals.
This Northern region’s victory streak comes on the heels of a massive $7 million Daily Grand jackpot claimed in October 2022.
Following closely, Alberta secured the second spot, celebrating an average winning of $67,566 per 1,000 people. This province witnessed a substantial windfall of $70 million in a Lotto Max jackpot awarded to a lucky Calgarian in October 2022.
Meanwhile, Manitoba earned the third place in this study, with residents taking home an average of $53,959 per 1,000 individuals. The province’s pinnacle moment was marked by a colossal $60 million Lotto Max win in Winnipeg in March 2023.
The Atlantic Provinces emerged as the fourth luckiest region in Canada, garnering an average of $45,688 per 1,000 residents. A significant $64-million Lotto 6/49 jackpot claimed in April 2023 became the highlight of this region’s lottery fortunes.
Surprisingly, despite boasting the highest total winnings in the last year, Ontario settled for the fifth spot. The province saw incredible victories, including two separate $60 million Lotto Max jackpots in November 2022. However, Ontario’s average winnings per 1,000 people stood at $42,357, placing it behind other regions.
On the lower end of the spectrum, Saskatchewan emerged as the least fortunate province, with an average of $17,360 per 1,000 residents. The largest win in the region clocked at $5 million, claimed by a lucky individual in Saskatoon playing Lotto 6/49 in May 2023.
While lottery winnings might seem a game of chance, this report unveils intriguing patterns and varying degrees of luck across the provinces, painting a vivid picture of Canada’s lottery landscape.
