Lotteries Review Panel Appointed

A panel of experts has been appointed to conduct an independent review of retail ticket lotteries, the Minister of Environment and Labour said today, May 3.

"Appointing this review panel fulfils the province's commitment, announced in March, to respond to the finding that retailers are winning at 10 times the rate of the general population," said Mark Parent.

Results of an internal review announced by Atlantic Lottery Corporation in March showed that retailers had won ticket lottery prizes more often than they should have, statistically.

The panel will analyze the ticket-lottery system and identify steps that can be taken to ensure that Nova Scotians have confidence in its integrity.

Depending on the findings of the panel, the minister may expand the review to include VLTs and linked bingos -- games played using video feeds.

"To ensure a thorough review of retail ticket lotteries, I have appointed a high-calibre panel with William Hogg, a former deputy minister of finance, natural resources and government services, as chair," said Mr. Parent. "The two other expert panel members are Ms. Dawn Russell, a former dean of law at Dalhousie University, and Mr. David Wojcik, a lawyer and former RCMP constable."

The retail ticket lotteries review panel will interview and review documents from retailers, the Atlantic Lottery Corporation and the Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation.

The panel will be supported by the alcohol and gaming division of the Department of Environment and Labour and by other experts.

The alcohol and gaming division regulates gaming in Nova Scotia. It ensures rules and regulations are followed within the industry. As regulator, it operates independently of other entities in the industry.

The Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation is the Crown corporation that manages the business of gaming on behalf of government, with all profits going to government. Its mandate is to balance revenue generation and social responsibility and to advise government on gambling policy. It oversees two operators who run the day-to-day business of gambling in Nova Scotia: Great Canadian Gaming Corporation, which operates casinos in Halifax and Sydney, and Atlantic Lottery Corporation, which operates ticket and video lottery games across the province.

The review panel's budget will be about $125,000. Its report is expected before the end of October.