Canadian Lottery Considers Online Gambling

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia – As reported by the Canadian Press: "An online club that has attracted 24,000 Atlantic Canadians will be used to set up one of the country's first legal Internet gambling sites if the Atlantic Lottery Corp.'s board approves the plan, the agency's president has confirmed.

"Michelle Carinci, in an interview with The Canadian Press, said the website is already being used to create a database of potential online gamblers.

"..While there are hundreds of betting sites on the Internet, most of them based offshore or operated by native bands, provincial lotteries have yet to enter the market because the Criminal Code prevents them from selling outside their provincial boundaries.

"Meanwhile, Atlantic Lottery's new eClub Rewards site encourages users to enter contests and play light-hearted games, such as online air hockey, in return for submitting personal information.

"…Armed with a such a comprehensive list, the Atlantic Lottery Corp. could use it to prove its online gamblers are of legal age and from the region.

"…Carinci said outside agencies are already cross-referencing the data received in the online club to ensure members are of legal age…"