TORONTO - Ontario's ombudsman says banning retailers from buying tickets in their own stores is a good step -- and a refreshing change after months of pushing for change at the beleaguered Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp.
Marin says he had been ready to push for a complete ban for retailers if the agency didn't show signs of improvements.
But the latest changes raise hopes that the agency isn't dealing with an "ungovernable lot" despite what he calls on uphill battle to try to turn things around.
Marin says banning vendors from buying their owns tickets is an inexpensive and practical solution and he's hopeful retailers won't push their luck by disregarding the new rules.
The government's announcement comes two years after a scathing report from Marin, who had given the OLG until this month to show that "rampant fraud" had ended.
The report also recommended the OLG set up a system of secret shoppers to check up on the honesty of retailers.
