CALGARY (Sun Media) - New security measures are being implemented to prevent lottery retailers from taking other people's winnings, the Western Canada Lottery Corp. said yesterday.

Starting Aug. 1, lottery players will have to print their names on the back of their tickets before the stubs are validated at terminals, said WCLC spokesman John Matheson.

"We're asking players to put their names on the back of their ticket as soon as they buy it to make sure that no one else can cash that ticket," he said.

The move comes on the heels of investigations revealing lottery retailers in B.C., Ontario and the Atlantic provinces were winning at rates sometimes 10 times greater than that of the general population.

A review conducted in Alberta going back three years shows during that time period, nine merchants had winning tickets, which Matheson said is a normal rate, when one takes into account the frequency and level of playing by retailers.

"It's our responsibility to protect our players," he said.

"Just because it hasn't happened here, it doesn't mean it won't happen.