Not all rims rrroll up equally

The odds of winning a big prize when you roll up the rim on a cup of Tim Hortons coffee depend on where you live, CBC News Online has learned.

Canada's biggest fast-food chain is running its annual spring promotion that offers customers a chance to win prizes ranging from a cup of coffee to a $33,000 sport utility vehicle.

Albertans and Atlantic Canadians have nearly twice the opportunity of driving off in one of the 30 SUVs as people in Toronto or southwestern Ontario.

If you live in Quebec, where Tim Hortons is battling for market share with rival Dunkin' Donuts, your chances are even better – a one in four million shot at the SUV, versus one in eight million for B.C. and one in 11 million for southern Ontario.

The same is true to a lesser extent for the three other big rewards: 100 plasma televisions, 500 cash prizes of $1,000 and 10,000 barbecues.

A spokesman at the company's headquarters in Oakville, Ont., was initially unaware of the prize distribution breakdown and had to check with Tim's marketing people before confirming that the odds have been skewed for at least the past couple of years.

"There are only 30 cars," Greg Skinner said. "If it was all equalized, some places like P.E.I. or New Brunswick might not get one at all. This is just about trying to create some excitement."

• INDEPTH: The odds on Rrrolling Up the Rim

The overall odds advertised by the company of winning one of the SUVs is one in 8,296,300. While a longshot, the chances are at least better than those of picking up the Lotto 6/49 jackpot, which are roughly one in 14 million.