Lottery Winner Waits for Payout

By 250 News

This is the slip  a lottery winner was given  after his  ticket indicated a prize of a thousand dollars, but  the winner is  facing delays in  getting the cash.

Prince George, B.C. - Bill Vanderlans is an ordinary guy. He lives in the north end of the City of Prince George with his wife and daughter.

Nearly every night, Bill heads to the Mr. G’s on West Austin Road for a coffee and a chat with friends who stop by. He is a regular lottery ticket buyer, and buys his tickets at the Mr. G’s.

Bill had a ticket on the January 23^rd 6-49 draw, and bought the “Extra”. When he later checked his ticket, he discovered he was a $1,000 winner.

That’s when his troubles began.

(Vanderlans, at right,  waiting to hear when he will get his money)

Knowing the Mr. G’s couldn’t cash that amount of winnings, he headed to the Treasure Cove Casino. His ticket was checked, and before receiving a payout, he was asked, are you a ticket retailer? The answer was no. Do you know a ticket retailer? Well, that’s where the system hit the brakes.

Bill’s wife works for a small convenience/grocery store in the Hart Highway area. The store sells lottery tickets. He told the Casino people the truth. His wife works in a store that sells tickets. Apparently that was the wrong answer.

Bill was advised he would have to get in touch with the BC Lottery corporation, and the Casino would not be cashing his ticket for him.

The reaction is the result of the recent clamp down across the country because of some ticket retailers who have “won” significant amounts over the years. Although some may be very lucky, there are questions that some may have cheated the rightful winners out of their rightful winnings.

Bill contacted the B.C. Lottery Corp and was advised he could travel to Kamloops, but no dollars would be handed out until there was a full investigation on his wife. Keep in mind, Bill bought his ticket at Mr. G’s and had it checked at Mr. G’s “I told them they could check the ticket for finger prints, my wife has never touched it. The only prints on it are the clerk who sold it to me, mine and the person from the casino.”

Bill was then advised to send the ticket to the Lottery office in Kamloops for verification. He has done so, making photo copies of the ticket, and sending it express mail so there would be a tracking number. He then talked with the Lottery Corporation again, which told him he could expect to see his cash in about 2 months, if everything in the investigation of his wife turns out o.k.

Needless to say Bill is not a happy camper “You know, those lottery people are Johnny- on- the- spot when it comes to taking my cash when I buy a ticket, but now that I’m a winner, I am being treated like a criminal.”

Opinion250’s calls to the BC Lottery Corporation have not  yet been returned.

*****UPDATE*****

2:15 p.m. - B.C. Lottery Corporation’s  Robin Cook called this afternoon to say  she will check, "Something  just doesn’t sound right" says Cook.   She says while the Lottery Corporation has a responsibility to ensure  all claims are legitimate,  the  BCLC also has  a committment "To ensure Mr. Vanderlans has an exciting and enjoyable  lottery experience." Cook says she will be touch with all involved parties to see if the matter can be resolved sooner than the 2 month time frame offered to Mr. Vanderlans.

3:15 - BC Lottery Corp representative Robin Cook calls again to say  Bill Vanderlans'  ticket was received  by the Lottery Corp on January 30th. "It will not take two months" says Cook,  "someone will contact Mr. Vanderlans in the next few days."

Cook says  Vanderlans is not the only one to  lodge a complaint "We have heard from many of our winners that the process is taking too long, I hope those same people will contact the Ombudsman and our Minister  as we are  following  their directions."

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