Lottery tickets continue being one of the main purchases many individuals from Prince Edward Island make on a weekly or daily basis. Pat Murphy, overseeing the daily operation of Alberton Irving and Kwik-Way, made it clear that the Atlantic Lottery Corporation has to put an end to the sales of those gaming products, as players put their health in risk.
Prince Edward Island is one of the Canadian regions with a relatively lower number of confirmed COVID-19 cases since the beginning of the outspread earlier this month. The Maritime province is the smallest one in both area and population, so it makes sense that the confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus have reached 11 by March 30. The province also implemented an online self-assessment tool.
Local Retailers Seek Lottery Ticket Sales Ban
It would help individuals suspecting they might have contracted the highly contagious virus with self-assessing their symptoms and finding out whether or not they should in fact dial 811 for further assistance. Amid the growing concerns regarding the novel coronavirus, gaming offerings across the province have been shut down. Red Shores Racetrack and Casino locations in Charlottetown and Summerside ceased operation as of March 16.
Atlantic Lottery Corporation implemented this preventive measure in order to promote social distancing over the upcoming two weeks. In addition to that, the popular video lottery terminals in all four Atlantic Canada provinces were turned off. Regardless of these decisions, lottery tickets are still on sale across the province. Retail locations offering those are among the places where many people of all age groups gather for their daily purchase.
This includes both tickets for Lotto MAX and Lotto 6/49 the two most popular draw-based games, and the traditional scratch tickets providing instant gratification. Mr. Murphy made it clear that fundraising games and lottery draws on a community level should come to a halt at least for the time being. He oversees one of the retail locations offering lottery tickets.
Retailers Make Their Own Choices
Mr. Murphy made it clear that there are still many individuals purchasing lottery tickets on a daily basis when they should be staying at home and practicing social distancing. This is the approach projected to give results in the future and flatten the curve of the novel coronavirus. The 50-50 draws have also been rather popular among locals. The store manager made it clear that those products are not essential and players should not risk their health for them.
Atlantic Lottery Corporation or the provincial government have the power to put an end to those sales, and the Federal Government has no power, clarified Member of Parliament Bobby Morrissey. Chief Health Officers in each of the provinces have been advising social distancing and responsibility to one’s own health. P.E.I.’s chief public health officer Dr. Heather Morrison recommended that the local fundraisers and lotteries should be done online.
However, this is not an official directive by the Crown corporation. For the time being, Atlantic Lottery Corporation has no plans of putting an end to its regular draws or in-person purchases of tickets. It also reminds that online ticket purchase is also available as an alternative. In the meantime, Atlantic Superstores and Shoppers Drug Marts have ceased selling lottery tickets as their own measure battling the COVID-19 outspread.
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