Deal struck in misprinted lottery tickets

TORONTO, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- A financial settlement has been struck between a Toronto-area man and the Ontario lottery regulator over misprinted tickets that looked like $135,000 winners.

Thomas Noftall, 27, and his lawyer met with Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. officials in Toronto Wednesday for two hours over the issue that made international headlines, the Toronto Sun reported.

When they emerged, it was announced a confidential financial settlement had been reached, but only because a call center employee had told Noftall on the telephone his prizes would be paid, the Toronto Star said.

Lottery chief Kelly McDougald said Noftall was paid only "in recognition of the grief caused to him."

Lottery officials said about 1,100 false winning tickets were printed, and most had been recalled from vendors since Friday. They said provincial law states the corporation is not liable for misprinted tickets.

Meanwhile, Maria Ilios told the Sun she has five tickets that show she won $257,000. She said if she's denied the prizes, she'll take the case to the provincial ombudsman, who serves as a third-party arbitrator for citizens.