A lottery result fits on a single line: a few numbers, sometimes one more set apart, and a date. Yet that line is where a lot of mix-ups start. A ticket someone thought was a loser ends up in the trash when it was worth a prize; another that looked like a winner is not. Here is how to read a result without getting it wrong.
Start with the game name and the date
Before you even look at the numbers, check two things: the game and the draw date. Several lotteries look alike, and the same game can have more than one draw a week. Your ticket shows the date of the draw or draws it is entered in. Checking your numbers against the wrong draw is the most common mistake, and the easiest one to avoid.
The main numbers
The main numbers make up the winning combination. In a lottery like Lotto 6/49, the name sums up the rule: six numbers drawn out of 49. The order in which they are drawn does not matter, which is why results are usually listed from lowest to highest. What counts is how many of your numbers appear in the combination.
Take the time to tick off each number one at a time instead of skimming. A 13 and a 31 are easy to confuse when you read too fast.
The bonus number
Many games draw one extra number, called the bonus number (numéro complémentaire in French). It is not part of the main combination. It is used to separate certain prize categories: for example, matching five main numbers plus the bonus can be worth a bigger prize than five numbers alone. The bonus is usually shown separately, after the main numbers, often in a different colour or with its own label.
Keep in mind that the bonus number on its own, without enough main numbers, generally wins nothing. Each game’s rules spell out which combinations count.
Prize categories
A full result often comes with a prize table: each row is a combination (six out of six, five out of six plus bonus, and so on), with the number of winners and the amount paid. Some prizes are fixed; others, especially top prizes, are shared among all winners in the category. Two people with the same winning combination split the amount.
The operator publishes this table after the draw, sometimes with a short delay while winning tickets are counted.
Add-on options
Some tickets include an option you pay extra for, such as Extra in Québec, which has its own draw and its own rules. If you added it, check that result separately: it has nothing to do with the main numbers. Your ticket shows whether the option is included.
Always validate with the official source
Results shown on 1otoquebec.com are copied from official pages, with the date and a link to the source. They are a reference point, nothing more. If there is any discrepancy, the official results prevail. Above all, only the operator’s system can confirm that a ticket is a winner: have it validated at an authorized retailer or with the official tools before you throw it away.
A few simple habits:
- keep your tickets until they have been validated;
- sign the back of a winning ticket if the rules call for it;
- note the claim deadline set by the operator.
You can see the latest available draws on our Results page. If you spot a difference from the source, email us: we fix it as soon as the discrepancy is confirmed.