More than 20 people in Newfoundland and Labrador have joined a class action lawsuit against the Atlantic Lottery Corp. that claims it's wrong for the corporation to continue to sell Scratch'N Win tickets after the big prizes have already been won.

"I mean if the prize is gone, what's the point in buying a ticket?" asked Rodney Pearce, a resident of Deer Lake in western Newfoundland, who has signed on to the suit.

A statement of claim has been filed with the Supreme Court in Newfoundland and Labrador.

"People are being cheated in a sense because they are buying a ticket expecting that they can win a large prize, but the large prize has already been won, and the ALC knows this, but continues wrongfully to sell these tickets," said Tony Merchant, the lawyer leading four class action lawsuits filed against lottery corporations across the country.

Merchant hopes to have the first suit before a court in Western Canada in two or three months, after which it will be decided how to proceed in Atlantic Canada.

The Atlantic Lottery Corporation declined a request for an interview. Its officials said the corporation wouldn't comment on a matter that is before a court.

A corporation spokesperson said a list of the major prizes that have been won is posted on its website every week.