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Online Lottery Website Targeted by NDP
NDP Leader Carole James says is accusing the B.C. Liberal government of breaking
its promise not to expand gambling in B.C. James singles out PlayNow a new website launched by the B.C.
Lottery Corporation that allows people to buy tickets on four different
sports lotteries, including a football pool.
James says it’s a clear violation of the government’s pledge not to
expand gambling.
But the minister responsible for gambling, Solicitor General Rich
Coleman, says that’s not true, since no new casinos are being opened and
no new products sold.
In its news release about PlayNow, the Lottery Corporation says
"everything is easy to use just point and click." James argues that that ease of use is the problem, because internet
gambling is highly addictive.
"Anybody on the street will tell you this is an expansion of gaming,"
she says. "This government is desperate for the cash. They’re looking at
every opportunity to do that."
Coleman argues that PlayNow simply lets buyers in B.C. set up an
account and buy lottery tickets from home. It can’t be accessed from
outside the province.
"If you would normally buy a Lotto 649 ticket, you would now be able
to establish an account and buy it from home versus the store," he says.
"It’s not online casinos, it’s not that type of gaming whatsoever,
and that’s not something that we allow here."
The minister also says the government does not interfere with the
B.C. Lottery Corporation, letting it operate at arm’s length That means
it can expand gaming revenues it just can’t license new casinos.
Read the
entire article at:
CBC British Columbia
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