Complaints flood Ontario lottery probe

ONTARIO – As reported by the Toronto Star: "Phones at Ontario Ombudsman André Marin's office have been 'ringing off the hook' with 124 complaints since he announced an investigation into the province's government-run lottery corporation two days ago.

"'You could say we've hit the jackpot,' Marin said last night. 'The majority of the calls are allegations people were cheated out of their winnings and the failure of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation to properly investigate.'

"Marin launched the probe two days ago after CBC's the fifth estate detailed the case of cancer survivor Bob Edmonds, 83, who was scammed out of a winning $250,000 ticket by a convenience store clerk. The clerk later paid him a $150,000 settlement after a police probe.

"The program that prompted Marin's investigation found 214 lottery 'insiders' have won prizes $50,000 or larger since 1999, a number Marin and statistical experts called disproportionate…"