Why?
Why the hell does a website have “operating hours”? I want to check if my Lotto numbers won, and I can’t.
Can someone please shoot the person responsible at the Lotteries Commission for me. What sort of nutty bureaucrat dreamed up the idea of operating hours for a website?
I imagine the official answer will be something along the lines that problem gamblers are more likely to be online after 11 pm, so we close the site down at 11 pm, to stop those Lotto addicts. Never mind such stupidity won’t stop a single problem gambler in the world – they’ll go to one of the 1 million other online gaming sites in the Internet. It just stops legitimate customers from checking their results or buying a ticket for next week.
Grrrr.
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Tags: Lotteries Commission
November 15th, 2009 at 5:47 am
I imagine the official answer will be something along the lines that problem gamblers are more likely to be online after 11 pm, so we close the site down at 11 pm, to stop those Lotto addicts.
Well that would be the obvious answer.
they’ll go to one of the 1 million other online gaming sites in the Internet.
Do you support the “others are doing it too” defense in cases where you disagree with the action, or just in those that you agree with (24 hour opening hours for online gambling)?
[DPF: I think the idea of restricted hours for anything on the Internet is moronic. Hello - the Internet is global.
Secondly I think the any action to deal with "problem" gamblers should be targeted as those with a problem, not something that impacts everyone.
As an example the Online Lotto doesn't allow you to deposit or bet more than $100. That is a relatively sensible restriction. Not allowing you to even login to check the results after 11 pm is again moronic. ]
November 15th, 2009 at 6:20 am
I want to check if my Lotto numbers won, and I can’t.
boo fucking hoo.
Is that the only site that has the winning numbers? I think not. Besides, its only the secure area that’s clsoed, you can still see the results.
[DPF: But you also need your numbers, which if you have purchased through the site, you need to login to access]
I have no idea why they restrict hours, but can make afew guesses, such as they want staff on hand to monitor possibly fraudulent transactions and the volume of business during those hours doesn’t justify the cost.
[DPF: Are you also a moron? I mean seriously. They close the website down because they need staff monitoring transactions in real time?]
Simply put, it is up to the management of the business to set the operating hours to suit clients and minismise overheads. Don’t like, take your business elsewhere.
[DPF: If only I could. They are a state monopoly. If they were not a state monopoly I could take my business elsewhere. If they were not a state monopoly then they would not have such stupid online operating hours]
November 15th, 2009 at 7:12 am
David why don’t you simply bookmark http://www.mylotto.co.nz/wps/wcm/myconnect/lotteries2/nzlotteries/Primary/Results/LottoResults/?
[DPF: Because I need to login to get my ticket numbers]
November 15th, 2009 at 7:31 am
The site MUST be closed from 0630 – 1200 in EVERY timezone globally, only then will the Lotteries Commission save the godless gamblers of the world.
November 15th, 2009 at 7:55 am
Utterly moronic decision, with the usual utter morons acting as apologists on here.
November 15th, 2009 at 8:12 am
I don’t understand the responses of Rocky and Billyborker. The point is not that you have to go to the trouble of going elsewhere. Nor is the point that this might save operating costs (which, judging from the unlimited opening hours of every other site it won’t). No, the point is you have needless inconvenience that will do nothing but annoy legitimate punters.
You also have the ridiculous situtation of the state simultaneously providing a product that causes harm and trying to protect you from it.
The third level of silliness is that this is a legislated monopoly. If you want to come up with a competing lottery product that does sensible things like provide results 24/7, you will be put in prison.
What is confusing is the insistence of bureaucrats on socialising the costs of problem gambling. Because problem gambling, along with problem drinking, is undertaken by only a small proportion of the population, and because those types are much more resistant to popuilation wide policy than safe users, the bureaucrats’ approach of passing rules that affect everyone does little or nothing except destroy enjoyment of those products from legitimate use. When the ‘crats start targeting their carrots and sticks at where the problems are, they might have a small chance of succeeding.
November 15th, 2009 at 8:48 am
Boy, someone yanked farrar’s chain -
No I’m not a moron, I made a wild suggestion, not the statement of fact you seem to think it was.
[DPF: If you make moronic suggestions, don't complain when that is pointed out]
Are you so stupid that you cannot make a record of your numbers, or is checking them off from a list a task beyond you?
[DPF: Of course I can. But why should I. The point of having an Internet site is so you do not have to. You really do not get this customer service angle do you.]
Furthermore, they are no longer a monopoly, if ever they were. Lottos is one form of gambling, you could also choose to gamble with the TAB, various casinos, pokies in the pub, and so forth. If you can’t get by without your lotto fix, there are numerous international lotto sites quite happy to sell you a ticket or 10.
[DPF: They are a monopoly for their size prize pool. And yes in theory I could go elsewhere. Which means rather than NZ charities benefit from my gambling, some international gaming operator will profit. Again a fail for customer service and achieving your mission]
November 15th, 2009 at 9:01 am
“Can someone please shoot the person responsible at the Lotteries Commission for me”
Are you offering John Harawira a new career DPF?
November 15th, 2009 at 9:40 am
Perhaps it’s a requirement in some law that doesn’t consider the possibility of online sales?
November 15th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
the TAB also closes overnight.
at the risk of being called a moron, i thought it might have to do with security. not “monitoring transactions in real time” but incase of some sorta attack.
but yeah, its probably some weird ass morality law.
November 15th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
I’m a lotto retailer and those hours look like the hours that the retailer assistance helpline is manned. Don’t think that should be the reason though but know that if you win more than 5k in a lotto outlet then you end up talking to someone on the helpline cause the retailer has to ring them when the terminal gets locked.
Don’t know what happens if you win that much over mylotto but if it was a stipulation that you then ring someone to fill out the forms for that big a win then that could be the reason
November 15th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
The Real Reason:
CLIENT: “Hang on, those hours are just for the help-line. Nothing to do with the login. You should still be able to login and check your number etc”
DEVELOPERS: “Hang on, that was in the functional spec you gave us three years ago…. One minute. See, Section 12.15.5.1. And we emailed you about it on 8 separate occasions and called you 4 times. You never replied.”
CLIENT: “Oh, OK. Shit. I thought you’d read my mind and know that was wrong. Even though every other time you mention something which you think is incorrect I get all pissy and accuse you of wasting my time.”
CLIENT: “How much to fix it?”
DEVELOPERS: [Sharp intake of breath] “$80k and three weeks.”
CLIENT: “Fuck it, I’m leaving next week anyway. Just roll it out as-is.”
November 15th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
I feel with you, David.
Last year I was working in Europe, and the same thing happened to me.
Really annoying.
Opening hours online are probably the stupidest thing I have ever seen. The whole purpose of having a website is to be easily accessible.
I actually wrote to them asking why they had these hours, but they didn’t even bother to answer.
Maybe you will get some response to this posting
November 15th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
A few points, even if you are registered you cant gamble when you have an overseas IP address. A problem sometimes as Xtra used to rent Hawaiian IP numbers – strange but true.
But of course , you can check your results while out of the country.
They have a nifty feature which simulates the draw , while showing which of the winning numbers shows up on your virtual ticket.
And supporting a help desk through the night for a few gamblers could be expensive. Blame Bill English for requiring more with less money. yes they dont get taxpayer funds but they provide a ‘dividend’
[DPF: I love your attempt to blame Bill English for this. Made me laugh. To the substance, I would not complain if the site operated 24/7 but the helpdesk hours were work hours only]
November 16th, 2009 at 8:32 am
DPF said: Can someone please shoot the person responsible at the Lotteries Commission for me.
He or she can have the spot against the wall right next to Phil Goff.
November 16th, 2009 at 8:43 am
I’m with Malcolm. Sounds like every IT client I ever had.
November 18th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
@Countess, I live in Beijing and over the last year I’ve bought about a dozen lotto tickets online, never once was I denied because of an overseas IP address.