Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) has launched Direct Pay, a new payment option its customers can use when buying online lottery products.

Through Direct Pay, OLG.ca customers can now use Visa and Mastercard directly to purchase single tickets and lottery subscriptions, without having to first deposit funds into an e-wallet or pay cash advance fees.

OLG Direct Pay purchases are processed by the payments platform PaySafe, and accept Visa, Mastercard, Visa Debit, Mastercard Debit, and qualified prepaid cards that are issued by Canadian banks. Players can also use the balance in their e-wallet.

Amanda Marshall, OLG’s Vice President of Digital Product Integration, commented: “As the first gaming provider in Canada to offer Direct Pay for online lottery purchases, OLG is ahead of the pack when it comes to providing customers with convenient and flexible payment options.

“Investing in our payment capabilities supports our plan to put the customer at the centre of everything we do while delivering an unmatched and integrated digital gaming experience to players in Ontario.”

Lottery products which can be purchased via Direct Pay include LOTTO MAX, LOTTO 6/49, Daily Grand, Ontario 49, Daily Keno, Pick-2, Pick-3, Pick-4, and Encore on OLG’s website and single tickets on the OLG app.

Direct Pay is part of the OLG’s PlaySmart program, its online responsible gambling player tools and educational materials, as it uses a purchase limits tool.

OLG confirmed earlier this month that legendary musician Billy Joel will play at the grand opening of the OLG Stage at the Fallsview Casino at Niagara Falls.