PLI Fined After Technical Issue with Irish Lottery Winning Tickets
Premier Lotteries Ireland (PLI), the operator of the National Lottery in the region, has been fined following hundreds of players being incorrectly told their winning tickets were not due to claim a prize.
PLI fined when Check My Numbers tool wrongly discounts many winning tickets.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:The Irish National Lottery regulator issued a fine to PLI of €23,000 by withholding the money from the operator. PLI says the error occurred in 2022 when the Check My Numbers tool on the National Lottery website stated nearly 400 players had not won a prize.
This mistake led to 394 eligible winning tickets not progressing and ending up as unclaimed prizes. The value of winning tickets ranged in value from €2 to €250 and a cumulative total value reaching €2,299. The regulator stressed the fine was to impress on PLI that the operator's systems need to be more robust because this could have impacted a player who won a more substantial prize.
While unclaimed prizes are a feature of all lotteries, it may be that some 394 ticket holders relied on a 'not a winner' message from the Check My Number Facility on-line, which did not yet have details of the latest draw to check against the numbers entered by players. Every breach is a serious matter for my office as reflected in my decision to withhold €23,000 in funds from the operator and ensure a permanent technical solution to my full satisfaction, I do not underestimate the potential impact that this technical error could have had on a larger prize winner.
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Lottery Operator Improves Process to Claim Prizes
PLI has admitted to the technical error on its website that led to this situation but stresses it is constantly reviewing its processes. It says it has made several changes to its procedures and has improved the process of claiming winning prizes on the lottery. This includes making it easier for players who have won larger prizes to electronically claim their winning prize.
The National Lottery provider has also stated it intends to phase out the Check My Numbers feature on its website because it says the tool has a low usage among customers.
Last year the regulator of the Irish National Lottery withheld payments from the PLI due to failings in its self-exclusion procedures.
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