Canada: Alberta set to rake in us$ 1.48 billion from gaming

The province’s net proceeds from gaming haven’t topped us$ 1.5 billion since then, but should in 2015, the fiscal plan projects.

Gambling research specialist David Hodgins, of the Alberta Gaming Research Institute, said the province doesn’t have enough evidence-based strategies in place to keep gamblers within their limits. “There’s lots of room for further prevention efforts,” Hodgins said. He’s recently taken aim at improving a provincial program for troubled bettors wanting to quit cold turkey.

The Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission’s (AGLC’s) self-exclusion program allows people to take concrete action if they decide it’s in their best interest to take a break from gambling. About 850 participants have enlisted on average each year since 2000.

Last year, however, marked an above-average participation increase, as 1,043 Albertans asked to be banned from casinos - a more than 22 % spike. This year, as part of Hodgins’ research, self-ban participants are offered a chance at trying out a new online program to support their recovery bid. “Our hope is that they will tackle problems earlier and, perhaps, prevent even more serious financial, personal and family consequences,” Hodgins said.

AGLC spokeswoman Tatjana Laskovic suggested more people may be signing up due to an awareness campaign that started five years ago. Laskovic said the message may finally be getting out there. “There may have been an increase in general knowledge about the program and how to access it,” she said.

Hodgins, meanwhile, is also exploring whether the self-ban program should be extended to cover video lottery terminals. The province began replacing its aging fleet of 3,000 VLTs in restaurants and bars, and the AGLC reports the high-tech machines will be unveiled this summer.

Gambling expert Robert Williams noted it’s one of the biggest VLT revamps since they were introduced in 1993. “They’re just glitzier,” said Williams, referring to touch screens, improved graphics and interactive game play.

While he doesn’t expect VLT revenues to double or addiction rates to soar like they did when the machines were first introduced, Williams contended the overhaul won’t help those struggling with addiction. “We’re still going to have addiction problems with them,” he said. And while gamblers took home most of the us$ 23.8 billion wagered overall, about us$ 1.47 billion still landed in provincial coffers.

That was up us$ 30 million from the previous year and nearly us$ 100 million more than projected in the 2011-12 budget.

Gambling now falls under the purview of Alberta Finance. Robyn Cochrane, press secretary for Finance Minister Doug Horner, noted there are factors to consider when judging the growth in gambling revenues.

Alberta’s population is increasing by the size of Red Deer, Cochrane said, and the economy is still buoyant - despite a massive resource revenue shortfall. Anti-gambling advocate Dale Hansen, on the other hand, bristled at the scope of Alberta’s gaming industry.

Hansen, a pastor, led the charge to get video gambling machines yanked out of Rocky Mountain House watering holes in 1997. The machines haven’t come back since. He called on government leaders to “wean themselves off of their own addiction to gambling income.” “It’s tragic that our government is relying on a poor man’s tax to make ends meet,” he said.