Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation: Ontario Lottery glitch infuriates customers, prevents sales
Would-be millionaires were angered Wednesday when they were prevented from buying lottery tickets due to a glitch that affected thousands of lottery terminals.
Lottery officials said a piece of equipment at their data centre in Toronto malfunctioned.
The broken piece of equipment has affected nearly 2,000 lottery terminals across the province, which is equivalent to roughly 20 per cent of their machines.
Many of the affected terminals are located in the GTA and eastern Ontario.
Local Toronto newsrooms received a number of calls from irate customers, who were distraught they couldn't play the same numbers they have been playing for years.
A spokesperson from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation said the problem occurred Wednesday morning.
Officials said repair crews are feverishly working to rectify the problem before the 9 p.m. draw.
Wednesday night's Lotto 649 draw is estimated at $3.5 million.