The Western Canada Lottery Corporation is making changes to its online sales that appear to hamper some NWT players’ ability to purchase tickets.
Until this week, any lottery player in the territory had the option to buy subscriptions online rather than visit a store to buy a ticket in person. That option was particularly useful if a community had no in-store sales.
Last month, people with subscriptions were told by email that the website they use – Subscription Spot – was closing and the service moving to “the new Lotto Spot platform.”
“Due to this change, customers in communities that are not approved for online lottery sales will no longer be able to purchase a Lotto Spot subscription while located in the area,” the Western Canada Lottery Corporation stated.
“Customers can, however, purchase single-draw tickets and subscriptions on the Lotto Spot app when physically located in an approved area within the region.”
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The message did not specify what an approved community is and which communities are affected. Multiple lottery players got in touch with Cabin Radio to question what the change meant.
The NWT government’s Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, which has some oversight of lottery administration in the territory, told Cabin Radio the NWT communities not approved for online lottery sales are Colville Lake, Délı̨nę, Dettah, Fort Good Hope, Gamètì, Jean Marie River, Kakisa, Kátł’odeeche First Nation, Nahanni Butte, Sachs Harbour and Sambaa K’e.
“The community government must determine whether they want to sell lottery products and pass a resolution accordingly. The communities identified have not granted approval for lottery,” Maca public affairs and communications manager Peter Tah stated by email.
Asked what this means in practice for people in those communities, Tah wrote: “Residents living in communities without approval for lottery sales will no longer be able to purchase active subscriptions while in their community once the transition to the updated Lotto Spot app is complete.”
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The Subscription Spot website has already closed for sales purposes. Its front page states it will “not be accepting new registrations and sales will be unavailable.”
But WCLC has also delayed the launch of its new app.
In a fresh email last week, the corporation wrote: “To ensure the best possible launch experience, we’re taking a bit more time to make final enhancements. As a result, we will not be launching on April 11 as previously communicated, and we’ll share an updated launch date with you soon.
“Once this update takes effect, you can manage your subscription, as well as all your other Lotto Spot needs in one convenient, engaging and fun destination.”
Even once the new app arrives, people in the above communities won’t be able to use it to purchase tickets. People in other NWT communities should be able to use the app to buy tickets and subscriptions.
But the rules also suggest that if you live in one of the communities without approval, you can use the new app to buy tickets or a subscription if you leave that community, for example by travelling through a different community that does have approval.
“We expect the launch of the new platform will be a positive change for us and for our players across the region,” WCLC told Cabin Radio in a statement.
“This platform is intended to centralize the ways Lotto Spot players enjoy our products into one convenient place.
“Overall, this update is focused on modernizing service delivery and improving the player experience, while maintaining continuity for players and retailers across the region.”
