BCLC Being Sued by Canadian Casino Player
A Canadian problem gambler is suing the BC Lottery Corporation, claiming that the group failed to keep her out of its casinos, despite the fact that she had signed up for its self-exclusion program.
A New Westminster Supreme Court heard this week how Joy Ross lost $330,000 at BC casinos, such as Orangeville Raceway and Gateway Casinos.
Ross claims that she was let in to the casinos to gamble, although she had signed up for membership to the BCLC's program which is meant to try and keep players out of casinos if they choose to self-exclude themselves.
The case brings to light the question of personal responsibility and how far problem gamblers will go to try and defeat self exclusion programs set up to help them.
Ross said that when she asked a casino employee to keep her out, threatening to sue the BCLC if not, the employee replied: "How are you going to sue? You have no money left."
BCLC's lawyer, Michael Stephens, countered Ross's claims, saying: "I want to suggest to you that he did not say that."
Member of Self-Exclusion System Set up by BCLC
Joy Ross claims in her case that she was allowed back many times in the casinos, despite her picture being circulated as a problem gambler and her being a member of the self-exclusion system set up by BCLC.
If caught in casinos, problem gamblers are asked to leave, and can even be fined. If they win anything during their membership period, they are not paid out.
Ross's lawyers have accused the lottery corporation of setting up a program which is, in fact, just "window dressing" and said that "the Crown is making money hand over fist."
Last year, a government study found that problem gamblers went to great lengths to defeat the systems set up to prevent them from gambling, including using false names and fake IDs.
The court heard how Joy Ross signed her mother's name on casino forms to claim winnings over 55 times during the three years that she gambled at BCLC casinos.
Not the First Time BCLC's Come Under Fire
This is not the first time that the BCLC and other Canadian lottery groups have faced similar charges, but most are settled out of court.
A gaming researcher from the University of Alberta, Garry Smith said about the Canadian casino player suing the BCLC : "If the court finds she has a case and can recover that money it's going to cause a lot of problems for provincial governments across the country."
