The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) has forged a new partnership with Dollarama, making the retail chain the latest vendor for Lotto Max and Lotto 6/49 QuickTickets across Ontario. The rollout of these tickets across the retail network is expected to reach over 600 store locations by early 2025.
This marks the first time national lottery products will be available for sale at Dollarama stores, positioning Ontario as the pioneering province in this retail venture. While this expansion brings convenient access to lottery products, it also raises operational challenges.
Samantha White, a Dollarama employee, voiced her concerns in an interview with The Chronicle. “I have some questions as to whether or not the workers that are underage will be able to sell them, and if not, does that mean more time is spent finding someone in the store who can?” she said.
This could become a significant issue as the legal age to buy these tickets in Ontario is 18. Some customers might get very impatient waiting on their lottery cards if the worker isn’t of age to sell them and must find another worker to process the sale.
“What if someone tries to purchase them and they look under 18? How will I ask for their (identification) and how will I know that it isn’t fake?” said Cassandra Shmidt, a Dollarama manager.
On the positive side, this expansion could boost Dollarama’s sales by introducing new products to their shelves. “I do think having a different source of income will be good for Dollarama, as we’ll be able to sell a different item without the fear of it becoming stolen,” added White.
It’s too soon to say whether selling QuickTickets at Dollarama will be a stroke of genius that boosts lottery sales, or if it will backfire and create unwanted complications.
Ontario consumers and the retail chain alike will have to wait to see whether this gamble pays off.