Lotto Max will this week make history when it sets a new Canadian lottery record with a total of $100 million to be won.
"It's a real new benchmark," said Andrea Marantz with the Western Canada Lottery Corporation.
"It's never happened in Canada before so it's pretty exciting."
Up for grabs in Friday's draw is a $50 million jackpot -- the highest permitted with Lotto Max -- plus 50 individual $1 million Maxmillions prizes.
Normally the number of Maxmillions available is based on ticket sales, but this week there are 50 guaranteed, said Marantz.
On June 25, 2012, there was a $50 million jackpot accompanied by 49 Maxmillions.
"We've been close, but we've never been here before," said Marantz of this week's draw.
"We have the chance to create 51 millionaires on Friday night."
This is the fourth week the $50 million jackpot has been up for grabs -- draws on June 15, 22 and 29 were unsuccessful in matching winning numbers.
Marantz said when the jackpot is this high, ticket sales do increase, partly because groups of hopeful winners start forming.
Each ticket sold for this week's draw is automatically entered to win the jackpot and all the Maxmillions, which must be matched exactly to claim the $1 million prizes.
Draws will begin at 8 p.m. Friday and winning numbers are expected be posted later that night or early Saturday.
