Lottery addiction can kill, coroner says
Last Updated: Tuesday, January 10, 2006 | 9:30 AM ET
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The coroner ruled that a lottery addiction led to the man's death, and recommended that ticket sellers be regulated in the same way as those who sell alcohol.
Last summer, 62-year-old André Baril was a frequent player of a lottery game called Banco.
In a matter of weeks, he blew his life savings of $50,000.
Baril was retired. His family said he had been playing regularly since he won a $25,000 jackpot a few years ago.
In August, he shot himself, and the coroner's investigation concluded he did so because of his gambling addiction.
- FROM JULY 12, 2005: Growth of gambling industry needs review: report
Coroner Jean-Francois Dorval says people who sell lottery tickets have to take some responsibility, "like someone who sells alcohol."
He says lotto retailers should be licensed and trained to recognize gambling addicts, and that anyone selling tickets to them should lose their licences.
Loto-Quebec spokesman Jean-Pierre Roy says the agency will consider the idea, but that it may be difficult to implement.
He says most calls to Loto-Quebec's gambling hotline involve casino gambling and video lottery terminals, while only about five per cent are related to lottery tickets.
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