Quebec man sues over winning numbers printed seconds too late
A Quebec man is suing Loto-Québec saying he was denied millions in lottery winnings due to a computer problem when he bought his ticket right at the sales deadline.
Joel Ifergan of Dollard-des-Ormeaux bought two Super 7 tickets on May 23, just before the 9 p.m. cut-off.
He said he ordered the tickets at 8:59 p.m. — the convenience store clerk told him he had one minute to buy his tickets.
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The first ticket was printed showing the May 23 date – that night's draw – but the second ticket, with the winning numbers for that night's $27-million jackpot, was printed after a few seconds delay, showing a date for the following week's draw on May 30.
Ifergan claims the delay was caused by Loto-Québec's central computer system, and believes he's entitled to half the jackpot.
He told CBC he has talked to Loto-Québec officials, and "they've been very co-operative and amicable; they've given us the transmission report."
The West Island resident thinks Quebec's lottery corporation won't admit the error because it would be acknowledging its system is unreliable.
"The glitch in their system is that it's slow and there's a transmission delay ... especially when there's such a high demand for the draw," he said.
Ifergan feels lucky because "your chance of getting a winning combination [is] one in 63 million."
He filed his lawsuit in Quebec Superior Court this week.
Loto-Québec won't comment on the case while it is before the courts.
With files from the Canadian Press