Records have shown that a gambler who signed a voluntary agreement to keep him from gambling is suing the British Columbia Lottery Corp. because he wagered and won.

The Province reported on Monday that although in 2007 problem gambler Mike Lee of Vancouver Island signed an agreement found in gaming facilities to keep him from gambling for three years, he entered the Chances Cowichan casino in Duncan and won a slot jackpot of $42,500 which was seized.

Once signing the agreement and becoming part of the Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program, a problem gambler can be asked to leave a gaming facility and fined, and any jackpots won will be withheld and used to fund gambling-related research, the current brochure says.

Weiszner said that when Lee signed the agreement, there was no mention of giving up winnings. The rule was put in place April 1, 2009.

Weiszner also said, "He never in writing agreed to forfeit winnings. He agreed to the terms of the agreement that he signed."

There are 6,000 people in the self-exclusion program; some problem gamblers try to abuse the system and they "have some responsibility to the voluntary self-exclusion as well as we do," said Housing and Social Development Minister Rich Coleman. (With Inputs from Agencies)