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Lottery players warned to watch for extra credit card fees

CALGARY- If you’re hoping to hit the $40 million jackpot this weekend by buying a lottery ticket, you may want to watch how you pay for it.

Many credit card companies charge user fees on gambling purchases, treating them like cash advances which are subject to extra fees.

“I put the sign up now, because I don’t want people to get charged that five dollars,” says lottery kiosk owner Tony Fermin. “You know, just trying to save people some money.”

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The Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC) isn’t happy that some buyers are hit with extra charges.

“We’ve made the argument that purchasing a lottery ticket is more like purchasing a ticket for another form of entertainment, but some [banks] have accepted that argument and some have rejected it,” explains Andrea Marantz from the WCLC. “We’ve really taken pains to let our subscribers know that there is a chance that they may be charged as if taking out a cash advance if they use their credit cards. We make sure that they’re clear on that.”
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Not all credit cards charge the fees—it all depends on the bank. One way to get around it is to buy a ticket at a convenience store or gas station, as the transaction will likely be listed as a grocery or gas purchase instead.

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