On June 1, 2007, at least 2 keno retailers in British Columbia who won the lottery several times were so badly mired in debt around the time of their win that they had to file for bankruptcy.
On May 30, 2007, after a critical report from the B.C. Ombudsman on lottery retailer fraud, the B.C. Lottery Corporation publicly released the names of the 24 keno retailers known to have won multiple times over the past years.
Bankruptcy records show that at least 2 people in the statement were in such serious debt that they filed for bankruptcy against their financial creditors. That day, BCLC spokeswoman, Robin Cook, said that BCLC was not aware of the retailers' financial difficulties.
She added that the security staff of the BCLC, which reviews large wins by the keno retailers does not review the financial records of the winners.
However, Ombudsman Kim Carter's report which was released on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 uncovered several serious problems with the security system of the B.C. Lottery Corporation. For instance, the organization did not pay special attention to lottery retailers who won several prizes.
One of the multiple lottery winners who filed for bankruptcy was Sandy Waldorf, an employee from the Texada Island Inn. On July 27, 2007, Sandy Waldorf filed for bankruptcy, stating that she has over $70,000 in debts and $4,535 in assets. Waldorf was removed from bankruptcy on March 28, 2002.
The second lottery retailer to win several times and has file for bankruptcy was Bert Tymchyshyn, the previous owner of the Only Gas Bar in Fernie. According to the records of the BCLC, Tymchyshyn won on 5 separate occasions between 1991 and 2001 for more than $52,000.
According to the records, Tymchyshyn closed down his gas station business in July 2001. On December 13, 2007, Tymchyshyn filed for bankruptcy, saying that he has debts of more than $290,000 and just $21,165 in total assets.
Tymchyshyn listed business failure as one of his reasons for filing for bankruptcy. He was released from bankruptcy on September 14, 2005. The 24 Keno retailers who have won several times were named by the Ombudsman after they investigated 7 years of files at the lottery corporation's offices in Richmond and Kamloops.
Only those who have won $10,000 or more by playing keno games are required to go directly to the BCLC office to get their prize. Smaller winnings are either given by the retailer from petty cash or at the casinos.
Sunday, June 24 , 2007
John M. Thorpe
