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HOW A FRAUDULENT CLAIM TO A LOTTERY TICKET CHANGED THE RULES OF THE GAME, AND MADE A GROUP OF ORDINARY GUYS MILLIONAIRES SEVEN YEARS LATER--CBC'S the fifth estate INVESTIGATES

Lucky Seven airs on CBC News’ the fifth estate, Friday, Nov. 2 at 9 p.m. (9:30 NT) on CBC-TV

In this week’s the fifth estate, Linden MacIntyre reveals for the first time the extraordinary tale of seven ordinary guys who suddenly struck it rich—to the tune of $12.5 million. Why it took the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) seven years to find them is a true-life drama full of false claims, counter-claims, court battles and a nifty new computer program that can meticulously track the habits of people who play the lottery game. Lucky Seven airs Friday, Nov. 2 at 9 p.m. (9:30 NT) on CBC-TV.

 

 

In 2006, the fifth estate revealed a scam where trusting people had their lotto winnings stolen by crooked storekeepers. Luck of the Draw set off a storm of controversy that ended in the OLG changing the rules forever. As the fifth estate investigated, one story rose to the surface that had always seemed fishy. It was a family that claimed a huge $12.5 million jackpot in 2004. To the OLG, the facts simply didn’t add up, and last year, with the help of the Ontario Provincial Police, they discovered a group of seven construction workers who they believe are the rightful winners of that 12.5 million dollar jackpot. OLG investigators reveal to the fifth estate how they found them, and the lucky seven speak publicly for the first time since their win.

 

VIDEO: 60 seconds with Linden MacIntyre—MacIntyre on the rule changes that occurred at OLG following the fifth estate’s investigation

 

 

In advance of the broadcast, watch Lucky Seven online, for review purposes only, by contacting Corey Black ([email protected]) for the link and password. CBC News Network rebroadcasts the fifth estate on Saturdays at 7 p.m. ET. For more information on the fifth estate, visit our website at www.cbc.ca/fifth, join us on Facebook and follow us on twitter. Executive producer of the fifth estate is Jim Williamson.

 

cbc.ca/fifth

facebook.com/thefifthestate

@cbcfifth

 

About CBC News

For more than 75 years, CBC has been the source Canadians turn to, to keep them informed about their communities, their country and their world. Through regional and national programming on multiple platforms, including CBC Television, CBC News Network, CBC Radio, CBCNews.ca, mobile and on-demand, CBC News and its internationally recognized team of award-winning journalists deliver the breaking stories, the issues, the analyses and the personalities that matter to Canadians.

 

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For further information, or to request interviews, contact:

 

Corey Black, News and Current Affairs Publicist, CBC

o) 416-205-8710

c) 647-221-4133

[email protected]

 

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