Help Yourself

More Canadian lotteries test self-service terminals, with Ontario taking the biggest plunge.

By Patricia McQueen

Published June 17, 2025

Lottery self-service terminals (SSTs) have come a long way from their roots as instant ticket vending machines. While ITVMs are still in many markets, SSTs are the state of technology today. They offer both instant tickets and draw games with an engaging digital screen, and most are designed to accept both cash and cashless payments options. They may also be enabled to require a driver’s license scan to ensure the player is of legal playing age (which varies by jurisdiction).

Almost all American lotteries have vending or SSTs, but they are relatively new in most of Canada. The historical strength of Canada's draw games may have something to do with that, as early machines were limited to instant tickets.

British Columbia Lottery Corp. was an early adopter, with terminals first going into hospitality locations some 15 years ago. In May 2024, BCLC replaced the older machines with modern versions, representing a significant investment in the organization’s retail business. The installation of more than 600 SSTs across 521 hospitality network retailers was a complex undertaking, with significant testing and development to ensure a seamless experience for players.

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New features include enhanced functionality and a card payment option; players can also validate their ticket by scanning it on the terminals. Available games are national games including Lotto Max and Lotto 6/49, and regional games such as Keno. Additionally, players can place sports bets with PROLINE, BCLC’s sportsbook.

The whole technology project – which included new systems and standard retail lottery terminals in addition to the hospitality-based SSTs – took several years of planning and allows BCLC to serve the needs of its players and retailers.

Western Canada Lottery Corp. is also working through a complete system-wide technology and lottery terminal replacement, scheduled to begin in the next fiscal year. WCLC has not historically used self-service machines; it's likely that a pilot SST program will ultimately be included as part of the modernization.

About 140 SSTs are active in the provinces served by Atlantic Lottery; they were first deployed in May 2022. The terminals can serve a variety of functions for players, including the purchase and validation of a variety of lottery products (draw and instant games, plus PROLINE sports betting). They can scan tickets, QR codes and selection slips, and accept promotions and coupons. Players can even buy WebCash for purchases through Atlantic’s online lottery platform. SSTs are located in many Walmarts, Circle K and other convenience stores, and supermarket chains like Sobeys.

In the past few weeks, Loto-Québec installed its first SSTs, with a dozen terminals placed in the greater Montreal area. They are located at retailers that already sell lottery products, as well as in high-traffic areas such as shopping centers and transit hubs. The goal is to test customer interest in purchasing lottery products through self-service machines, as a complement to lottery sales through Loto-Québec’s retailer network and online. It’s all about recognizing that consumers’ purchasing habits have changed.

The terminals scan ID to ensure age verification and offer draw games and a selection of the most popular instant tickets. Payment is by card only (credit/debit), Apple Pay or Google Pay.

Major Rollout in Ontario

Ontario Lottery and Gaming has truly embraced SSTs after a pilot program at 140 locations in February 2024. Six months later, the provincial rollout of 1,400 units began, and to date more than 700 have been installed.

“OLG is always looking to innovate our products and services to ensure a great customer experience," explains spokesperson Tony Bitonti. "While we had been looking at the self-service experience in other jurisdictions for a while, the pandemic gave clarity to the fact that people liked the self-serve options at stores and fast-food restaurants and this trend was here to stay. To remain competitive and continue raising revenue for the province, it was important that OLG continued to enhance its lottery business to reflect changing customer preferences and behaviors.”

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OLG began engaging its retail partners and other industry stakeholders in 2022 to proactively build support and answer questions about the new SSTs. After securing government approval, there was a competitive procurement process for an SST vendor, and OLG entered into a partnership with IGT Global Solutions for the design and build of SSTs, allowing for an update to some provincial gaming regulations.

“Like other lottery jurisdictions, OLG wanted the SSTs to provide customers with a convenient way to buy their lottery tickets while still ensuring they can play safely and responsibly. The SSTs also support our hardworking retail partners, who drive awareness and sales of our lottery games, with more revenue in commissions.”

All OLG draw games, such as the national lottery games Lotto Max and Lotto 6/49 plus regional games, are offered through the terminals; a total of nine different games are available. Each unit also has 28 bins for instant tickets. Sports tickets, gift cards or e-coupons are not currently supported.

The SSTs are not meant to replace the retailer, but rather to enhance the lottery purchase experience; they are visually appealing and easy to use. They will soon include the ability for customers to redeem all lottery tickets, but cash redemptions will not be an option. Customers will continue to redeem cash prizes of up to $999 (if the retailer has the cash on hand) at full-service retailer partners. Along with the requirement to scan ID for age verification, this is another measure of ensuring that those who are redeeming a lottery prize are at least 18 years or older, the legal age to purchase and redeem lottery tickets in Ontario.

Another important feature of the SST is a set of accessibility features that comply with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). These include a flip screen option to move options at the top of the screen to the bottom, the use of an AODA navigational keypad, and adjustable headset volume control, via an audio jack.

The units have been offered to OLG’s key account retailers such as grocery stores, convenience and gas channel partners, and to independent retailers that have the in-store footprint to accommodate the units. The SSTs have also unlocked new retail partners for OLG, where traditional lottery terminals weren’t a fit for them before. “These net new partners and sales channels bring with them high traffic potential and we are excited to see the benefits that will come from them," says Bitonti.

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When the pilot began, customers were curious about the new technology, but there was some reluctance to actually try the machines. “We deployed brand ambassadors and our lottery sales force to help, and so far customer reaction has been mostly positive – especially in high traffic retailers where customers are happy to know they can skip the line at the gas station or the grocery store cashier when they are just there to purchase a lottery product.”

On the retail side, the installation of the SST units has gone well so far, along with the training of the retailers on how to use them. Again, with any new technology, there is an adjustment but overall, the units are well received, and retailers are getting used to having them in their stores.

Early results are also indicating the ability of the SSTs to reach new, less frequent lottery players. Therefore, OLG will continue to focus on net new retail channels and partners especially in those high traffic areas.