Anti-gambling advocates are slamming the B.C. government over a pilot program to offer liquor store customers lottery tickets during checkout.
PIN pads at two East Vancouver liquor outlets are already selling Lotto Max and 6/49 tickets to every shopper paying by debit or credit card, and the program is expanding to three more stores shortly.
The Coalition Against Gambling Expansion sees the move as a sneaky cash-grab for the province.
“It’s too tempting, it’s wrong and it should not be happening,” said member Isabel Minty. “The citizen’s being exposed to more opportunities to lose [his or her] money.”
The BC Lottery Corporation defended the program as a test run, and pointed out that customers can already buy tickets at 90 private liquor stores and about 40,000 retailers.
PIN pads at certain grocery stores also offer customers lotto tickets already.
“Right now this is just a pilot. We just want to see if it’s something that customers find useful,” BCLC spokeswoman Kim Steinbart said.
The next phase of the program will take place at stores in Prince George, Richmond and Port Coquitlam. One store in each city will sell lottery tickets for four to eight weeks.
Whether the program is expanded across the province depends on public feedback.
With a report from CTV British Columbia’s Penny Daflos
