Domain Name News

BC Government Gambling Website Brought Down by Privacy Breach

By Frank Michlick

July 21, 2010

Apparently the Online Gambling site by the Province of British Columbia was not brought down by too much traffic after opening, as originally reported. The Globe and Mail now reports that the site was actually taken down because of a breach privacy that allowed players to see other player’s financial information and even use their funds for gambling.

“Someone could be playing away with [someone else's] money,” said BCLC president and CEO Michael Graydon.

A total of about $8,000 had to be redistributed once the errors were discovered and affected individuals tracked down, he said.

As well, bits of the personal data of 12 players were viewed by others, including some numbers on their credit cards, Mr. Graydon said.

“We reacted very quickly and in a transparent way to the customers involved, and we will make sure this does not happen again,” he vowed.

“We are one of the first jurisdictions in the world to do this. … It’s a new frontier, and technology is changing very rapidly.”

In an unrelated charge the Lottery Corporation also faces a $600,000 fine by the federal Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre (FINTRAC), but is planning to appear.

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