Atlantic Canada sets up first e-lottery service

Atlantic Canada sets up first e-lottery service

Atlantic Lottery Corp. became the first Canadian government-run lottery corporation to launch its online service. The company introduced PlaySphere, an initial offering of seven games available at www.alc.ca site.

Canada.com reported that users appreciated the new opportunity as it presented a more comfortable environment to gamble. Corporation spokeswoman Cynthia Goodwin says the new site targets Canadians who already use the Internet for their shopping, banking and entertainment.

Virtual ticket sales, which showed stunning results in more than 30 lottery associations in most European countries, Australia and the United Kingdom, face Canadian legal restrictions making the corporation's site conduct extensive checks and balances. So that, registered users should prove they are at least 19 years old, or 18 in P.E.I., and a resident of Atlantic Canada. Credit information is to verify the players' data. Users can transfer funds directly from their online bank accounts into their website accounts, but not from credit cards.

Winning ticket holders will be notified by e-mail, and payouts of up to $1,000 can be put directly into the player's existing account. The system allows $1,000 maximum balance for an account, and a weekly spending limit between $1 and $99.

But the new product has stirred a lot of controversy. Dr. Rina Gupta, co-director of McGill University's International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems, said: "My concern is the blurring of what is gambling and where this could lead since the corporation is calling its services gaming, not gambling. There's a big effort out there for people to perceive that lottery tickets are not gambling."

The online lottery site is expected to raise serious money. But some experts tend to connect this growth with the increase of entire lottery industry. According to the statistics, lotto ticket sales continue to pay dividends to the tune of $587 million in 2003-04, including $401 million that went to the four provinces. Atlantic Lottery says 75 % of all Atlantic Canadian adults play lottery at least once a year.