BCLC Faced with Class Action Lawsuit
The BCLC, the official lottery corporation of Canada's British Columbia province, will be faced with a class-action lawsuit, after a Supreme Court judge gave two problem gamblers the go-ahead to sue.
Hamidreza Haghdust and Michael Lee claim that the BCLC refuses to pay them out winnings made at casinos in the province, based on the fact that they were part of the corporation's self-exclusion program.
However, the men are saying that the fact these casinos let them in and accepted their bets, means that the 'agreement' was one-sided, and therefore they deserve to be paid out the $75,000 owed to them.
The pair will certify a class action lawsuit against the BC Lottery Corporation, representing the 6,000 British Columbians who have enrolled in the corporation's self-exclusion program.
This program allows self-admitted, as well as defined problem gamblers to ask the BCLC not to allow them to enter the casino and take their money.
Problem Gamblers Allowed Entry
The residing BC Supreme Court judge, Justice John Savage said that the men's claims that BCLC withholding their winnings is "unconscionable", considering that they did not fulfill their commitment to keep them out of the casinos in the first place, made sense, and that a class action lawsuit could be started.
Since 2009, at least 300 self excluded gamblers have had their winnings denied. Many of these will undoubtedly join the BCLC class action lawsuit.
The lottery corporation said that it used updated technology, including license plate recognition surveillance systems, in an attempt to keep program participants out of its casinos.
In the time period between 2007 and 2011, over 36,700 participants of the self exclusion program had been removed from BCLC casinos or denied entry altogether, according to the group.
Past Lawsuits Against BCLC
Last October, a problem gambler sued the BCLC and two casinos in Langley for allowing her to enter their premises, leading her to ultimately lose $330,000 in life savings and loans.
The woman signed up for the BCLC self exclusion program in 2007, admitting that she needed help as she was "out of control".
Despite the threat of $5,000 fines to those members found gambling, Ross managed to enter the casinos and lose her money.
"I just really want the government to recognize how bad the problem is - and its people, not statistics," she said at the time.
Despite the threat of a class action, the BCLC continues to deny all wrongdoing and allegations.
