BC Lottery Launches Online Play and Purchase

KAMLOOPS, British Columbia – (PRESS RELEASE) -- British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) today introduced Internet play and purchase as a new way to distribute select lottery products.

B.C. residents aged 19 and over now have the option to make limited purchases of four BCLC sports-based games - Sports Action Point Spread, Oddset, Over/Under and a new Football Pool. Players go to sportsactionbc.com to access PlayNow, a secure Web site that offers these select games for purchase online.

"The Internet has changed the way we work, communicate and play. More consumers are choosing to use the Internet to shop, bank and access government services," said Kevin Gass, Vice-President, Corporate Communications and Marketing. "By offering select lottery games on the Internet, we are providing an alternate way for our players to buy their favourite games."

The PlayNow site incorporates stringent safeguards, standards and codes of conduct for Internet play. The games are limited to B.C. adults, and have appropriate messages and features in place to encourage responsible play practices, including a $70 maximum weekly limit on the amount that a player may fund their Wallet Account.

"In developing PlayNow, we focused on system integrity and security," said Mr. Gass. "As a result, customers can feel confident they are purchasing lottery products in a regulated online environment they can trust."

Jim Lightbody, Vice-President, Lottery Gaming, said the PlayNow site is another example of BCLC's commitment to player-focused services that satisfy customer needs and expectations.

"Everything is easy to use - just point and click. Players will be excited to learn that there is also a new game in the Sports Action lineup. The new Football Pool game has a $10,000 guaranteed jackpot each week and can only be purchased through the PlayNow site," said Mr. Lightbody.

In B.C., the Corporation is the provincial Crown mandated to conduct and manage gaming and is the only organization that can lawfully offer Internet gaming in this province.

Revenues from BCLC's Internet sales will combine with revenues from BCLC's traditional lottery, bingo and casino gaming to benefit all British Columbians. Last fiscal year, $720 million in net income was returned through government programs for health, education, social, community, charitable and municipal purposes.

BCLC's mission is to provide high-quality gaming entertainment in a socially responsible manner, generating income for the public good.