Ontario Retailers Not Allowed To Gamble On Lottery in Their Own Stores

If the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. has its way, retailers in Ontario will not be allowed to buy or cash lottery tickets in their own stores.

The retailers are upset over a rule that actually went into effect on September 17th. The rule says that the retailers would have to go to other locations other than their own stores to purchase and cash lottery tickets.

The rule has not been enforced as of yet but the OLG has sent notice electronically that the rule would soon be enforced.

Spokesman Jim Cronin had this to say, "Once retailers received the electronic file and had a chance to look at it, we were contacted by them to say they'd like to have more discussion about the suggestion."

Lottery merchants are waiting word as to whether the corporation is moving forward with enforcing the law, and if they do, lottery merchants will be prepared to voice their opposition of the rule.

The rule was apparently put in to place after retailers collected over $100 million in fraudulent claims since 1999, and the lottery corporation is trying to curtail some of this fraud.

The merchants are not happy because they believe that they are being singled out for the fraud, and they are prepared to battle the rule until it is reversed.



2007-10-28