Canadian lottery sued over instant tickets

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Canada's Atlantic Lottery Corp. is facing a class action lawsuit in Nova Scotia for selling scratch-off lottery tickets after the top prizes have been won.

Laura Trowell is heading the suit on behalf of anyone who purchased or was given a scratch ticket in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland/Labrador since Nov. 1, 2001, The Chronicle-Herald newspaper in Halifax reported.

In addition to stopping the practice of selling tickets after the big prize has already been won, the suit seeks a return of money to people who bought the tickets, the report said.

A spokeswoman for the corporation acknowledged knowing about the suit, but made no comment.

Earlier this month, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported the Western Canada Lottery Corp. that oversees ticket sales in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, along with the territories of Yukon, Northwest and Nunavut also allowed ticket sales to continue after jackpots were won.

Following similar complaints in the United States, state lottery officials in Colorado, Indiana and Virginia revamped the sale of scratch tickets after top prizes were claimed.