Atlantic lottery loses millions to offshore internet gambling operators

Arguing the positive aspects of legalised online wagering on the Atlantic Lottery before the Crown Corporations committee of the New Brunswick Legislature this week, Atlantic Lottery chief Brent Scrimshaw claimed that the lottery lost $64-million dollars to online gambling sites last year.

Using the UK site Bet365 as an example, Scrimshaw said that it was widely advertised at a recent CFL game in Moncton between the Montreal Alouettes and Hamilton Tigercats, and that such sites are taking business away from his corporation – without returning any profits to taxpayers.

“The signs of one of those operators was painted on the field and displayed on the sidelines, and marketing teams worked the crowd,” said Scrimshaw, who later gilded the lily somewhat by claiming that instead of contributing to books and hospital beds (like his lottery does), offshore betting companies instead lavished their profits on buying “boats and beachfront properties.”

The lottery chief said that offshore betting sites are illegal and, unlike Atlantic Lottery, they don’t help pay for government services.