A Markham man who lost hundreds of thousands of dollars on slot machines is suing the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. for $3.5 billion, claiming staff allowed him to gamble even though he had authorized them to deny him entry to casinos or throw him out if he went in.

In a statement of claim filed in Ontario Superior Court and served on OLG this week, Peter Dennis argues the province's voluntary "self-exclusion program" failed to prevent him and others from gambling, and the OLG actually profited from "problem gamblers" unable to stop themselves.

The self-exclusion program allows problem gamblers to sign a form granting casino and racetrack staff the right to use their "best efforts" to bar them or remove them if they are caught inside. About 12,000 people have signed up.

Rob Moore, a senior OLG vice-president, said he finds it troubling that people might think of the program as a way to not be responsible for dealing with their addiction.

"It's quite dangerous and misleading to think that one could transfer the responsibility they have once they've confirmed they have an addiction onto a third party," he said.

Dennis, a married father of two, became anxious and depressed after losing about $350,000 between August 2000 and May 2004 on slot machines, the unproven statement of claim alleges. He lost a further $59,000 during an 11-week binge, after which he signed a self-exclusion form at Woodbine Racetrack.

The claim, filed on behalf of Dennis and his wife, Zubin Noble, asserts that OLG still allowed Dennis into gambling venues and did not detect or remove him, leading to further losses of $200,000.

Dennis could not be reached for comment. His Mississauga-based lawyer, Hassan Fancy, declined to comment when reached last night.

Dennis lost his two homes to foreclosure and was fired from his job as an account manager after failing to repay a loan from a client.

The suit seeks damages on behalf of those gamblers who signed on to the self-exclusion program but still managed to keep gambling.

With files from The Canadian Press