Public Appeal Launched to Find Purchaser(s) of Winning $12.5 million Ticket
TORONTO, Sept. 29 /CNW/ - The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) is looking for the individual or group that purchased a winning SUPER 7 ticket that won a free ticket which won a $12.5 million jackpot on the December 26, 2003 draw.
OLG supported the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) in its investigation resulting in yesterday's laying of criminal charges against Kathleen Chung, Jun-Chul Chung and Kenneth Chung. Ms. Chung claimed the winning ticket as her own in 2004. The file was turned over to the OPP in 2006. OLG believes that someone other than Ms. Chung purchased the ticket that generated the free play that won the $12.5 million jackpot.
"OLG is pleased to have provided important information and assisted the OPP in its investigation," said Paul Godfrey, Chair of OLG's Board of Directors.
OLG reconstructed the play pattern of the December 26, 2003 winning SUPER 7 ticket and created a customer and ticket profile. This was done with a new, in-house data analytic tool, known as Data Analysis and Retrieval Technology (DART). DART allows OLG to review billions of transactions within a matter of seconds, to recognize patterns that identify potentially fraudulent behaviour or claims.
OLG is seeking the customer(s) with this play pattern who may be the purchaser(s) of the SUPER 7 ticket which led to the jackpot win on a free play ticket. Some highlights of what we know:
- An original SUPER 7 ticket was purchased at That's Entertainment store located at 353 Lake Street in St. Catharines in 2003.
- This ticket was validated at Variety Plus located 3500 Dundas Street at Walker's Line in Burlington and won a free ticket for the December 26, 2003 SUPER 7 draw.
- That free ticket won the $12.5 jackpot in the December 26th SUPER 7 draw.
- OLG knows the customer purchased and validated tickets in St. Catharines and/or Burlington on certain days and times.
- OLG believes the customer lived in one city and worked in the other in 2003.
- OLG knows that the customer played SUPER 7 regularly but also played other lottery products at the same time.
- Based on the dollar amount spent and the number of tickets purchased, the potential exists for this to be a group play.
Note: The detailed Customer Profile is attached to this new release and is posted on www.OLG.ca.
"OLG will use the new information it has, and work closely with the OPP, to try and find the individual or group who purchased the winning ticket," said Paul Godfrey. "That person or group would also likely become a witness in the court proceedings."
If and when OLG investigators confirm the purchaser(s) of the winning SUPER 7 ticket, the $12.5 million prize will be paid with accrued interest at the appropriate time.
OLG Background documents on DART, Player Protection Measures, and the Insider Prize Claim process are also posted on www.OLG.ca.
OLG is a provincial agency responsible for province-wide lottery games and gaming facilities. Since 1975, OLG lotteries, Casinos, Slots, and Resort Casinos have generated more than $32 billion for the benefit of the Province of Ontario. Gaming proceeds support Ontario's hospitals, amateur sport, recreational and cultural activities, communities, provincial priority programs such as health care and education, and local and provincial charities and non-profit organizations through the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
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THE ONTARIO PROBLEM GAMBLING HELPLINE 1.888.230.3505
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For the Public:
If you feel the Customer Profile or play pattern best describes you, please call:
OLG at 1.800.387.0098 (press option #3) to speak to one of our Investigators.
Because this jackpot win is the subject of an OPP investigation, all calls to OLG on this matter will be recorded and forwarded to the OPP for further review.
For further information:
OLG Media Relations
1.888.946.6716
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