Two Year Canadian Lottery Dispute Ends
After two nail-biting years, nineteen workers of Bell Canada were finally allowed to receive a check for their full share of the $50 million Lotto Max jackpot won on December 31st, 2010.
The workers, who became known as the Bell 19, have been embroiled in a frustrating battle for their funds since their win was challenged by other co-workers who claimed that they should also be included in the pool.
The dispute arose after the 19 realized that their four week old syndicate, which operated on a monthly fee of $20, had made history by being the only single ticket to ever win a $50 million Lotto Max jackpot.
The following day, in the midst of their excitement and celebrations, other call center employees came forward to claim a stake in the win.
When this happens, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp has no choice but to freeze the payouts until the dispute is resolved.
Winning Lottery Ticket Disputed
The other Bell workers disputing the win said that the Bell 19 had been part of an informal weekly office pool of 40 people since the beginning of 2010.
They said that by forming their own syndicate, they acted in "bad faith" and therefore they were entitled to some of the winnings. Nine claimants filed a lawsuit against Bell 19 in 2011, hiring a lawyer to argue their case.
Last year, the OLG agreed to a partial payout for the 19 winners, and each received a check for $1.7 million. The rest of the $50 million was handed to the courts until the dispute could be settled.
This week, an arbitrator ruled that the case should be dismissed and the 19 should receive their full payment. This means that the Canadian lottery dispute ends on a good note for the true winners.
Dynamics of Casino Decision
Since the Bell 19 won in December 2010, seven single tickets have gone on to win the $50 million jackpot.
One of these was by another office pool of 24 workers at Bombadier and, unfortunately, this win is also being disputed.
The OLG suggest ways in which syndicates can protect themselves and their winnings from false claims by others. They suggest that one person be appointed a group play captain to coordinate group members, collect payments and validate tickets.
By using the OLG Lottery Group Play Form, the syndicate can create a list of members for each draw and include other pertinent information. The ticket should be signed immediately after it has been purchased and if it is a winner, the OLG should be contacted with the group's information.
