The Canadian Convenience Stores Association

Since December 1969, in Canada Lotteries are governed under provincial jurisdiction. Canada has two national lotteries: Lotto 6/49, and Lotto Max and there are a variety of other products marketed to adults.

These are administered by the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation, which is a consortium of the five regional lottery commissions, all of which are owned by their respective provincial and territorial governments:

• Atlantic Lottery Corporation (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador)
• Loto-Québec (Quebec)
• Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (Ontario)
• Western Canada Lottery Corporation (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Yukon Territory, Northwest Territories, Nunavut)
• British Columbia Lottery Corporation (British Columbia)

Games of chance have been around for hundreds of years but nowadays these are controlled. Laws stipulate that no minor can purchase lottery tickets. Players must be over the age of 18 years.

It is illegal to sell any lottery products to minors many of which are sold at C-Stores across Canada. CCSA and its members take this as a serious responsibility that fits exactly with our ‘Responsible Community Retailing” mission. We therefore have developed and initiated the We-Expect-ID program that has launched in Ontario during 2007 and is now expanding across the country. More information on this program and our age-verification processes that protect minors in accordance with the law can be found on the We-Expect-ID section of this website.

CCSA members are working closely with government and police agencies to quantify the protection standards we strive to achieve. Any retailer found selling illegal products of any nature will be subject to applicable laws and revocation of their membership in CCSA.

CCSA has developed a full training program for staff and employees to be certified for the We-Expect-ID program.

CCSA Lottery Issues  - “Swipe to Comply”

In Ontario, OLG lottery terminals are being used on a “Swipe to Comply” initiative to implement an easy way to check a customer’s age on their driver’s license. This in cooperation with OLG. CCSA members are using this as an extension to the “We Expect ID program.

In Québec, Loto-Québec has introduced lottery terminal age scanners to allow clerks to more accurately check ID.  This new technology means convenience stores can check for age more quickly, easily and accurately when selling lottery tickets, beer and tobacco.

CCSA is the largest lottery age restriction enforcement group in Canada and a strong advocate and supporter of the We-Expect-ID program.

Lottery sales are a major traffic draw to C-Stores and are now one of the top sales categories CCSA members rely on.

CCSA members are the largest resellers of lottery tickets generating approximately billions of sales revenues.

The significance of Lottery sales to any C-Store operator is crucial as a revenue stream to offset other declining product categories.

“Swipe to Comply” is part of the ‘Responsible Community Retailing’ campaign in Ontario at this time using OLG terminals. It is hoped that this program will continue to expand across the nation as part of the CCSA’s expansion.

With their lottery terminal, vendors can easily check the customer’s age on their driver’s license.

The customer is asked to produce their Ontario Driver License. This is then swiped though the OLG terminal.

If the customer is 17 and under their age will appear in red to the vendor.

If the customer is 18 - but under 19, their age will appear in Yellow.

If the customer is 19 or over, their age will appear in Green.

To date consumer acceptance of this age-verification process has been very favorable - and retailers are reporting that it is having the desired effect as a deterrent to under-age minors.