The B.C. Lottery Corporation could face hefty fines as a result of displaying credit card information during the crash of its ill-fated website, according to a credit card security expert.

Credit card security breaches of the type the company admitted to after the crash of PlayNow.com hours after it was launched can result in a big payout, according to Paul Gregoire, one of the few Canadians licensed to check card systems for security compliance.

"The fine range could be as small as $10,000 and upwards of $500,000," Gregoire told CTV News.

Some 134 people's private information -- including, in some cases, credit card information -- was leaked when the B.C. government's gambling website folded on July 15.

Some gamblers were able to bet other people's money. In other cases, BCLC appeared to pay out winnings, but the money didn't appear in the gamblers' accounts.

The website had been set up as a legal alternative to the illegal, unregulated gambling websites that suck some $100 million out of B.C.'s economy each year.

BCLC admitted in a press release Tuesday that a "defect in the error handling logic of an industry standard web server" caused PlayNow.com to crash.

That's a significant departure from the company's line that an overwhelming number of people logging onto the site caused the crash, according to computer security expert Rui Pereira.

"This is not simply a case of an overload," said Pereira. "This is something that needs to be fixed before the re-launch."

The lottery corporation didn't answer phone calls to comment on the details, but said that the defect could not be detected in the "rigorous testing undertaken prior to the website's launch."

It was that defect that led to the privacy breaches, the company said.

BCLC is now working with B.C.'s privacy commissioner to fix the problem before the website re-launches, the company said.

One of the people affected was Dean Grimm, a Surrey accountant. He tried to transfer $1,250 from his PlayNow.com account to a personal bank account. Although he was told that the transaction went through, no money appeared in his account.

"It's been 12 days: still no deposit in my checking account, no communication from BCLC," Grimm told CTV News early Wednesday.

After CTV News asked the company about his payment, one spokesman wrote an e-mail back, saying Grimm would be issued a cheque.

"We have contacted this individual and advised that a cheque is being processed and will be mailed out to him shortly," the e-mail said.

The company said that other people in Grimm's situation should contact the company's help line at 1-866-815-0222.

With a report from CTV British Columbia's Jon Woodward