Did you see "The Fifth Estate" about the Ontario Lottery Corporation ?

[looking4alady]

The Fifth Estate recently did two shows about The Ontario Lottery Corporation. Apparently, in the first show, a man went to get his lottery ticket validated and the clerk told him that he hadn't won anything. It turns out that the clerk kept the ticket and then claimed a $250,000 prize.

In the second show (followup to the first one), CBC went and approached the Lottery Corporation investigators about the first show and they found out that this man wasn't the first person to get "ripped off" by a retailer. Apparently there have been five other cases where retailers have claimed prizes and when they were asked where they purchased their tickets, they couldn't "remember".

My question is:
- When you go to a lottery counter to get your tickets validated, are you not putting your name on the back of the ticket ? I was told early on that a person should:

1) Put their name on the back of their tickets.

2) Confirm the validation receipt with the barcode on their ticket. The two should match to make sure the validation receipt is for their ticket.

I once made the mistake of giving a clerk a bunch of tickets to validate (I had them folded up in my wallet so just gave him the wad, I didn't break them apart); and when he gave them back to me, I was sure that I got one less then what he gave me. I sat and protested for 5 minutes, but then determined it was fruitless because I didn't do my do diligence of breaking the tickets up and determining exactly how many I had in the first place.

I'm just trying to understand how these retailers are getting away with this? Are people nieve to the point that they don't wait for a validation receipt to confirm if their ticket won or not? Am I the only person that puts my name on the back of a ticket when I'm getting it validated?

Looking for feedback from the masses.....

 

[LargeLips]

I have seen both episodes. Always sign your name on the back of the ticket (I DO) and watch that screen. OLG seems to be a bit corrupt don't you think? I have a funny feeling we haven't seen or heard the last of this yet.

 

[therealrex]

If you're too lazy or stupid to check your own numbers you deserve what you get. There's nothing I hate more than waiting in line to pay for my Slurpee cause some numbnuts needs the clerk to check his lottery tickets.

 

[visiting]

This was big news when it first aired a few months ago. On another CBC show they discussed it, and I think they said in 2 other provinces, some new laws were being planned.

 

[LonelyGhost]

simple law would resolve it: no one who owns or works where lottery
tickets are sold can claim a prize.

and yeah, put your name on the ticket and check it yourself.

 

[LittleAsianGuy]

I was careless losing my lotto tickets & in the laundry a few times.Now i buy my lotto tickets online at bclc.com u can register your name,address,etc. Also, register it as a bill payment and there are no fees. i've won a few small prizes a couple of times and it's direct depostited into my bank or u can request a cheque. It's the safest way of buying lotto tickets no mess and u can look at your past purchase history online. Now my tickets are self checked by the lotto site n i love it

 

[LittleAsianGuy]

Cant they get a relative to claim the prize and share it 50/50? I use to work at a 711 during highschool and the smaller prizes could be claimed by a employees with no id needed. There are always ways around things for people who are willing to ripoff others

simple law would resolve it: no one who owns or works where lottery
tickets are sold can claim a prize.

and yeah, put your name on the ticket and check it yourself.

 

[LargeLips]

I was careless losing my lotto tickets & in the laundry a few times.Now i buy my lotto tickets online at bclc.com u can register your name,address,etc. Also, register it as a bill payment and there are no fees. i've won a few small prizes a few times and it's direct depostited into my bank or u can request a cheque. It's the safest way of buying lotto tickets no mess and u can look at your past purchase history online.

That's not a bad idea, thanks for the info

 

[looking4alady]

On the most rececent Fifth Estate, the "owner" of a store had won a prize (12.1 million), but it was his daughter who ended up claiming it for him. When Lottery pressed her for details of where she had purchased the ticket, she couldn't recall anything. Even when the police investigated it, the Ontario Lottery commission had covered it up (I thought all winners were supposed to be publicly announced?).

So...having a relative claim your prize for you doesn't always work!

In the end, it turns out that she did get her money (except that it was done with a lot of secrecy!)

 

[manrock]

i find it hard to believe
in ontario when tickets are scanned if it is a winner bells and whistles go off no matter what the prize
also a large lcd screen shows results
in manitoba we dont have this so wood be easier to do

 

[Quarter Mile'r]

When Lottery pressed her for details of where she had purchased the ticket, she couldn't recall anything. Even when the police investigated it, the Ontario Lottery commission had covered it up (I thought all winners were supposed to be publicly announced?).

Not sure of how it works in Ont, but here in BC there is a retailer
location number on every ticket. That number represents the exact
location from where it was purchased as the retailer location number
is specific for each and every lottery terminal location.

They can easily find out where lotto tickets are purchased here in
BC.

The only draw back to online purchasing is for the retailer. They do not
get a commision for online ticket buying. The Bclc then makes more money
that way in not having to pay a commision to a retailer location.
So online buying benefits the lotto corp and not the retailer.

Also, never leave a wad of tickets or any tickets for validation without you being present. That is just a recipe for disaster for the ticket owner.
Don't do it.

Always, always get the validation slip back with your tickets and check
that they match. If there's a discrepancy report that retailers ass to
the lotto corp. They will have their license yanked and that person will
be removed from that location and will be prosecuted.



............QM'r

 

[LittleAsianGuy]

There's another big major benefit in buying online. The lottery corp gives some bonuses occassionally. The last bonus they had was if u spend 20.00 within a certain date ...they'll give u a free 20.00 matching bonus. Sometimes BCLC would give new players a free 10.00 bonus just for signing up and registering a account.

The only draw back to online purchasing is for the retailer. They do not
get a commision for online ticket buying. The Bclc then makes more money
that way in not having to pay a commision to a retailer location.
So online buying benefits the lotto corp and not the retailer.




............QM'r

 

[Quarter Mile'r]

There's another big major benefit in buying online. The lottery corp gives some bonuses occassionally. The last bonus they had was if u spend 20.00 within a certain date ...they'll give u a free 20.00 matching bonus. Sometimes BCLC would give new players a free 10.00 bonus just for signing up and registering a account.

Wow and in that another corporation trying to screw their retailers,
their backbone in the marketing and sales campaign.

Who would ever have thunk it?
Must be that they're making so much money from this and casinos
they figure that the retailers are now a liability and are no longer
needed. Hence the start of the online purchasing of tickets and
where it could possibly lead. Perhaps they're right.

But if that's the case. Where will the poor slob buy his scratch tickets
from. Can't buy those online............yet !

..........QM'r

 

[LittleAsianGuy]

lol they have online scratch tickets at bclc for a long time now....im serious

But if that's the case. Where will the poor slob buy his scratch tickets
from. Can't buy those online............yet !

..........QM'r

 

[Quarter Mile'r]

NO way ! Really?
So they mail those scratch tickets to you or just send you an online
scratch ticket to scratch with your cursor thingy? Shit i don't believe
this crap...........it's to hilarious!

Fuck and I thought they hadn't thought of that yet.
I better get my head outta the sand when it comes to how these corps
will screw their retailers.
Tell me......do they sell all this same shit at the casinos yet? LOL!!

Somehow I think I know what the answer is gonna be.

............QM'r