The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) and the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) have changed how they publicize lottery winners, switching to a winner’s first name and last initial rather than a full last name. OLG adopted the practice in mid-April, while BCLC made the change on January 1.
Both operators pointed to the permanent online footprint that winner announcements can create, along with the risk of fraud and scams that target people who win. OLG still publishes a list of prizes over $1,000 claimed in the previous 30 days and works with Meta to take down accounts that impersonate the lottery. Loto-Quebec, Atlantic Lottery, and Western Canada Lottery Corporation continue to publish winners’ full names.
