British Columbia

B.C. Lotto website glitch leads to $1M in retroactive winnings

Nine people have retroactively won more than a combined $1 million after a display issue with a game on the B.C. Lotto Corporation's website was discovered.

The glitch caused a display issue on the BC Lotto website

The B.C. Lottery Corporation says it is retroactively awarding more than a combined $1M to nine players after a computer glitch prevented them from knowing they had won the money. (CBC)

Nine people have retroactively won more than a combined $1 million after a display issue with a game on the B.C. Lotto Corporation's website was discovered.

"BCLC determined that an incorrect configuration setting on the game prevented the proper signaling of a progressive jackpot win," the gaming authority said in a written statement Wednesday.

The issue was with the Wizard of Odds slot game on the BCLC website, which was affected from July 2014 to June 10, 2015. 

BCLC says it removed the game from the website as soon as it discovered the glitch and conducted a "thorough review" of the game's data. 

The technical issue only applied to people who had progressive wins playing the online game and had bet at least one dollar. Some players who won money were unaware of the winnings. 

BCLC says, as a gesture of good will, it will reimburse players who lost money on the game during the 11-month period it was malfunctioning.