BC Lotteries Corp’s Novelty Betting Site Attracting Media Attention

American media has turned its attention to BC Lotteries Corp's online Play Now website as it now offers novelty betting services to residents of Manitoba and British Columbia. "It's meant to capitalize and bring that entertainment factor to more casual people that wouldn't normally wager on something like a regular sports bet," Chris Fairclough, senior communications officer with B.C. Lotteries Corp. said to Winnipeg Free Press. Fairclough commented on punters' ability to make wagers on the company's regulated site versus unlicensed operators. “These are sites that aren't legal in Canada but people play on them anyway. Instead of going the prohibition route and trying to shut all those places down, we're offering a product that is safe and secure and gives back to the people and repatriates the money. So if you are placing this type of wager, you're doing so in a safe, secure environment”, he said. "Would you rather your money go back to paying for education and health care or would you rather it go to pay for someone's yacht in the Caribbean? We'll leave that to the players to decide."