The Short Answer: Lottery Retailers Are Everywhere
In Canada, scratch tickets (instant tickets) are sold exclusively through licensed lottery retailers. You can't buy them online directly from the lottery corporations, and you can't get them from unlicensed shops. But licensed retailers are extremely common — there are tens of thousands of them across the country, which is why you can usually find one within a few minutes of wherever you are.
The lottery corporation for your province (WCLC, OLG, BCLC, or Loto-Québec) issues lottery terminals to approved retailers. If a store has that terminal — the grey or black machine behind the counter — they sell scratch tickets.
Where to Buy: The Most Common Spots
Gas Stations
One of the most reliable spots. Petro-Canada, Esso, Shell, Husky, Co-op, and most independent stations carry scratch tickets. Usually have a wide selection.
Convenience Stores
Mac's, Circle K, and 7-Eleven locations almost always have lottery terminals. Corner stores and independent convenience shops are also common retailers.
Grocery Stores
Sobeys, Safeway, Save-On-Foods, Real Canadian Superstore, IGA, and Co-op Food Stores typically sell tickets at the customer service desk or a dedicated lottery kiosk near the entrance.
Pharmacies
Shoppers Drug Mart, London Drugs, and Rexall all commonly carry scratch tickets. Usually near the front cash or a lottery display stand.
Big Box & Discount Stores
Many Walmart locations and some Canadian Tire stores have lottery terminals. Check the customer service area.
Restaurants & Bars
Some restaurants, pub chains, and sports bars are licensed lottery retailers, especially in Western Canada. Less common but worth knowing.
ℹ️ Use the official retailer finder: Each lottery corporation has a "find a retailer" tool on their website — wclc.com, olg.ca, bclc.com, and lotoquebec.com all let you search by postal code to find licensed retailers near you.
The Evening Cutoff: Why You Can't Always Buy at Night
This catches a lot of people off guard: lottery terminals shut down every night, even if the store itself is still open. Lottery corporations set a daily cutoff time, after which the terminal locks and the retailer can't sell any tickets until the next morning.
The cutoff varies slightly by province, but in most of Canada it falls somewhere between 9:00 pm and 11:30 pm local time. In practice, many retailers see their terminal close around 9:00–9:30 pm, which is earlier than you might expect for a store that stays open until midnight.
This means if you're heading out at 10 pm to grab a scratch ticket on a whim, you may find the retailer can't sell — not because they're unwilling, but because the terminal is locked. The staff can't override it. This is a regulation set by the provincial lottery corporation, not the retailer.
⚠️ Don't rely on a 24-hour store staying open for lottery sales. A 24/7 gas station or convenience store still has a terminal that cuts off at night. If you need tickets after 9 pm, you're likely out of luck until morning.
Tips for Finding Tickets When You're in a Rush
Earlier in the day is always safer. If you're buying before 7 pm you'll have no issues anywhere. The closer you get to 9 pm, the more likely you'll hit a closed terminal.
Grocery stores often close lottery desks earlier than the store itself. A grocery store open until midnight might close its lottery/customer service desk at 9 pm or 10 pm. When in doubt, call ahead.
Gas station convenience shops tend to stay open later for lottery sales than standalone convenience stores, simply because they're often operated 24 hours and the terminal naturally runs until the nightly cutoff.
Not every store carries every game. High-denomination tickets ($10, $20, $30) are sometimes only stocked by higher-volume retailers. A small corner store might only carry $2–$5 tickets. If you're looking for a specific game, call ahead or use the retailer locator to find stores that carry it.
Can You Buy Scratch Tickets Online in Canada?
Sort of. Most provincial lottery corporations have online platforms where you can play "instant win" digital games — these are the digital equivalent of scratch tickets, but they're not the same as the physical paper tickets sold in stores. You scratch a screen instead of a card.
If you want a physical scratch ticket, you still have to go to a physical retailer. There's no mail-order or delivery option for paper scratch tickets in Canada.
Claiming Prizes: What to Know Before You Buy
Where you buy matters slightly for small prizes — most retailers can pay out wins up to $999 on the spot (some up to $2,000, depending on the retailer). For larger prizes, you'll need to visit a lottery office or mail in the ticket. The details are on the back of every scratch ticket, and each lottery corporation's website has a full guide to the claiming process.
One useful habit: check the remaining prizes before you buy. That's exactly what Scratchers Edge is built for — you can see which games still have top prizes available before you decide which ticket to grab.
💡 Check prizes before you go: Head to the Scratchers Edge dashboard → to see which games still have major prizes remaining, then pick up that ticket at your nearest retailer.