MISSISSAUGA, ON—A representative for the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation confirmed to PrintCAN that a printing error on some 1000 scratch and win tickets was made at Pollard Banknote’s Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. facility.
The tickets were sent to retailers across the GTA. A Brampton, Ont., man Thomas Noftall, created a media frenzy when he revealed that he had purchased four of the bogus Fruit Smash tickets Dec. 31, believing he’d won a total of $135,000. He contacted an OLG official who wrongly told him he would collect his winnings despite the mistake. The OLG’s policy is that if a ticket is misprinted, it’s considered void and will be replaced or refunded.
Today the OLG issued an apology to Noftall and awarded him an undisclosed sum of money for his trouble. About 15 lotto players informed the OLG about the misprinted tickets, and officials say they believe about 150 of the void tickets were purchased before they were pulled.
The OLG declined to comment further due to a number of “issues” that need to be worked out with the printer. Calls to Pollard Banknote were not returned.
The Winnipeg-based company opened its Sault Ste. Marie plant about two years ago and has been printing tickets for the OLG since 1987.