At the end of last week, Quebec learned of a major scratch lottery ticket controversy where a convenience store clerk got in trouble with the law. According to a press from the Sherbrooke Police, a clerk has been arrested for allegedly stealing CA$80,000 in scratch lottery tickets and prizes from two shops located east of Montreal.
Currently, the name of the perpetrator remains in mystery as the police have not disclosed it to the public yet. The only thing it shared was that the culprit was a 27-year-old man, who was arrested by its officers with the forceās criminal investigation division after conducting a search of the offenderās home. The police answered a complaint and a quick investigation led to the detainment.
Last Weekās Report
In its report from Thursday, February 23, 2023, the Police Department of Sherbrooke, announced that a 27-year-old man who works as a convenience store clerk was arrested for the alleged theft of CA$80,000 in lottery tickets. The unnamed culprit appeared in court last week, and according to the police, he will face criminal charges in the city, which is 155 km east of Montreal.
The offender was arrested after an investigation was launched and the police officers searched his home. According to a spokesperson for the law enforcement body, Martin Carrier, a complaint was submitted by the business owners and it acted quickly on it. It is believed that the alleged thefts took place during the perpetratorās shifts over the last few months.
Authorities did not share much on the case, but they stated that it is still trying to work out how much has been stolen in winning prizes. Mr. Carrier has also briefed the public, that the investigation is underway and Loto-QuƩbec is aiding the police. The Crown corporation is a provincial agency that is responsible for the legal distribution and offering of lottery products in the province.
Plans for a Mini-Casino in Downtown Montreal
More news from last week from Loto-QuƩbec includes its plans of bringing a mini-casino next to the Bell Centre, which is the home of the Montreal Canadiens in downtown Montreal. In a radio interview, CEO Jean-Francois Bergeron revealed that talks are ongoing with the team of launching hundreds of video gambling machines at the adjacent 1909 Taverne Moderne restaurant.
If it comes to fruiting the small-scale gaming venue will feature gaming machines, sport betting terminals and poker tables. The Crown agency also informed that the project has been in the works for quite a while, and it has been in negotiations with the hockey team over whether the new gaming venue could be operational every day from noon to 3 a.m.
However, not everyone was pleased to hear about the new downtown casino project. Dr. Jeff Derevensky, head of the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviours stated that gambling accessibility and availability are closely related to problem gambling. He said the casino will potentially allow people to develop a gambling problem or addiction.
Source: āSherbrooke man arrested for stealing $80,000 in lottery tickets and prizesā CTV News Montreal, February 23, 2023
