The British Columbia Lottery Corp is facing a class action lawsuit over allegedly “deceptive, addictive and dangerous” video slots.
The video slots class action lawsuit was lodged by a Kelowna woman who claims the slot machines with a video layout are particularly concerning. Further, players don’t know their chances at the devices because the odds of winning are allegedly hidden, according to the complaint.
According to the Vancouver Sun, the video slots class action lawsuit specifically focuses on games where a player bets on the outcome of a line of characters displayed on a video screen, as opposed to the older style of slots with a lever the player pulls to bet on one line.
The plaintiff says that she has played video slots for 20 years, including in the province for the past five years. She claims that she and other players are so deceived by the machines that the players end up suffering financial and emotional distress as a result. In addition, the plaintiff contends that the machines manipulate the odds of winning, amounting to a violation of the Criminal Code.
“Video slots are inherently deceptive, inherently addictive and inherently dangerous when used as intended,” says the video slots class action lawsuit. “They are a form of continuous gaming which differs from traditional mechanical slot machines, lotteries and other games of chance in that they are electronically programmed to create cognitive distortions of the perception of winning, which cognitive distortions are intended to keep the consumer engaged and losing money.”
The video slot class action lawsuit says that the games of the video slots are essentially rigged because players cannot determine their odds of winning.
“The difficulty of figuring out the odds is augmented by variable prize structures and the resulting volatility of the games that makes it impossible for the user to determine, with any accuracy, the true odds of winning during any given play session,” alleges the video slots class action lawsuit.
The plaintiff seeks to represent anyone who paid to play line games on video slots in the province of B.C. between Feb. 7, 2018 and the present.
“Use of the video slots as intended resulted in the plaintiff and the class suffering economic losses, emotional distress and mental anguish, and other expected harms flowing from these losses and injuries, such as addiction, dependency, self-harm and/or suicide,” contends the complaint.
Running of video slots at various private-sector services, including casinos, racecourses and community gaming centers is run by the B.C. Lottery Corp, or BCLC, which authorizes the use of the machines. The video slots class action lawsuit contends that the BCLC has been authorizing video slots improperly.
“The video slots described herein are so programmed, fixed and manipulative that they do not fit any reasonable definition of ‘slot machine’ or ‘fair game of chance’ and do not form part of a valid ‘lottery scheme,’ as defined in section 207 of the Criminal Code,” argues the plaintiff in her video slots class action lawsuit.
The video slots class action lawsuit is seeking $1 million in punitive damages. The plaintiff also wants an accounting of the profits made from the video slots and the lottery corp. to disgorge some of those profits.
Do you think video slots are manipulative and harmful? Tell us what you think in the comments below!
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20 thoughts onBCLC Facing Class Action Lawsuit Over Video Slots
Hello. I am contacting you to discuss the devastating effects electronic gaming has had and continues to have on me. I have asked to barred permanently from any and all gaming venues here in BC, but the representatives of the BCLC refuse to do so. As a result, even after a 3 year self-exclusion, (which I have done multiple times) I am back at the venues playing and losing money with financially negative consequences as well as other more destructive effects. This is unconscionable and is prima facie evidence of the corporation’s continuance and reliance on problem gamblers inability to control their habits. The Pareto principle clearly shows this effect. I would like to consult with a lawyer to discuss further.
Please contact me for further support
Aaron j Patterson
I would Like to be added
Aaron j Patterson
Heres my story. I know for a a fact their destructive
Hello Mr No one will reply. I,m contacting you in the hope of finding someone I can make a complaint …. about an account lock Mine since Nov 4th 2023, The security department requested documents be sent to them proving ownership of all the transactions on my account.,Gov Id ,Bank card and pics front and back,credit cards front and back.Last .Bank statements time and dates transaction and confirmation numbers. numbers…Thursday was the last set of documents I’ve sent and still the account has not been unlocked.IN fairness to the worker I emailed repeatedly for a few days asking if my account was unlocked and after Thursday sent a few more emails asking again if the account was open. Since Thursday and Friday, I haven’t heard a response from anyone. Maybe because i keep repeating and might be coming across as rude which are not my intentions that the fact the accounts not open is frustrating,I,m under the idea that 56-60 separate documents would be well enough to prove ownership and the transactions with the finances match to BC PLAYNOW records was enough. My account has 100.50 dollars and jan 2022 to nov 2023 I’ve deposited 45 000 $ and withdrew 25 000. $ loss of 15 000$ that goes to charities. There’s no nothing shady going on in my account . I did self exclude myse;f for 8 months or so. Ok thanks for taking the time to read this and hopes i can get my account re opened soon
I have the stats disclosed by BCLC of their income from 2011-2022 (if anyone ever attempts to challenge these mother truckers again) The increased income they experienced throughout COVID is absolutely astounding!!
Is this in Canada
Add me please, Im not a huge gambler maybe around a 100 a month, some nice COVID I’ve been doing it online and keep finding errors in there system. have tried explaining the faults in there system and proved it to them. Now I’ve been blocked from online gambling in BC
add me
I would like to be added to please…i won online casino over $78000 and are being denied.
Add me