Small businesses that sell lottery tickets say the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) is giving preferential treatment to a giant American multinational company.

Costco stores in B.C. are getting exclusive rights to sell Scratch and Win tickets called 20 Dollar Hit , along with special Christmas lottery packages.

However, if someone wins money on one of those tickets, they cannot redeem their winnings at Costco ; they must take their ticket to a lottery retailer, many of which are small businesses.

“Ultimately, we are completely opposed to exclusives, especially to large U.S.-based multinationals,” Chris Burger, vice-president of the Rural Licensee Retail Store Advisory Society (RLRSAS), which works with about 230 rural licensee stores in B.C., said.

“We feel that these so

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