Problem gamblers have the chance to take part in a class-action lawsuit against the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. Like its British Columbian counterpart, the OLG has failed to keep a number of self-excluded gamblers out of its casinos, causing many to experience losses that they may be able to claim for.Canadian Lawyer Magazine states that between 1997 and 2005, over 10 000 people signed up to the OLG’s self-exclusion program. During the time in which they were meant to be banned, many gamblers continued to enter OLG casinos and lose money. Since the OLG agreed to help keep the gamblers out of its gambling venues, lawyers believe that those who experienced losses are owed some compensation.
Of course, the OLG does not feel the same way. The fine-print on the contracts stated that the OLG would not be liable if players continued to enter the premises, but players state that this is simply unfair.
“The government can’t say there’s responsible gaming but when they get sued over a false self-exclusion program say ‘read the fine print,’” says Adair Morse Lawyer Jerome Morse.
This is the second time that the potential for a class-action lawsuit against the OLG has been proposed. The first time this happened was in 2010, when Ontario Superior Court Justice Maurice Cullity stated that a class-action lawsuit was not the best course of action. He claimed that each player was under different circumstances, so individuals lawsuits would have to be filed.
Since then, however, a number of class-action lawsuits have been filed on a similar basis. All parties had similar experiences to one another rather than experiencing the exact same situation. As such, Morse believes that self-excluded gamblers should have the right to launch a class-action lawsuit against the OLG.
