Lower Validation Limits

Effective August 27, 2007, BCLC reduced prize payout validation limits at lottery retail locations throughout the province from $3,000 to $999.99. This allows BCLC to capture information for winners $1,000 and greater in the prize winner database and make certain that the rightful ticket holders are paid.

Retailers must pay prize claims up to $200.00; however, it is at the retailer’s discretion to pay prizes between $200.01 and $999.99 due to business practices pertaining to the safety and security of cash float balances.

A process for conducting regular audits of pay prize claims up to $200.00 at retail was established in December 2007.

Statutory Declarations

Effective November 15, 2007 statutory declarations are required by all prize claimants for amounts of $3,000 or greater to verify they are not a lottery retailer, or a family member of a lottery retailer.

Prize Claim Process

BCLC's Player Services department is committed to maintaining the integrity and security of lottery products by paying the right prize to the rightful holder of the ticket, while providing excellence in customer service.

Player Services employees have an average of 15 years of experience each. In other words, they love their jobs and giving out prize money.

Focusing on the integrity of a prize claim, and creating a positive experience for the player are all part of the job in paying out millions of dollars to lucky winners.

Retailer Prize Claims

All retailers who win $1,000 or greater are interviewed by Corporate Security investigators to determine if prize payouts are valid.

BCLC's President & CEO must approve all retailer prize claims of $1,000 or greater.

Lottery Terminal Freeze

When you check your ticket at a lottery retail location and you win a major prize of $10,000 or greater, the retailer’s lottery terminal will play a unique winning jingle and the terminal will temporarily “freeze.” A BCLC representative will contact the store immediately and ask to speak with you directly to confirm your win, obtain important information to safeguard your ticket and explain what to do next. Then we will reactivate the terminal.

Lottery terminal freeze for large prizes better protects players in case their ticket is lost or stolen, or there is a dispute about the ownership of the ticket.