The Walrus - Alberta’s gamble with gambling
Here is a reference to the full text of this article. Some of the statistics are incredible. For example:
"Now a consistent source of hard cash, in 2004–2005 Alberta Gaming made more by mining citizens through vlts — $635 million — than Alberta Energy did from oil-sands royalties between 2001 and 2003."
"In the spring of 1992, Kowalski launched Alberta’s vlt invasion with little fanfare and no real public debate. The province located 435 machines in eighty-four bars and lounges, but Kowalski’s ultimate goal was to plant 8,600 terminals throughout Alberta. “It was virgin territory,” says Kowalski, who claims that he was unsure the province would make money from vlts or if people would play them. According to an Alberta Lotteries annual report, the machines generated $17.4 million in 1992 – 1993. By 1995 – 1996, gaming revenues had grown to $487.8 million, thanks largely to vlts. “Never once did we talk about the social impacts of vlts,” revealed one government official, speaking on condition of anonymity. “It was always how much and where. Those were the only considerations.”
"In northern frontier communities like High Level, with transient populations working in the oil-and-gas sector, vlts were a veritable gold mine, producing revenues in excess of $200,000 per machine per year. "
"With 1996 vlt revenues exceeding the take from health-care premiums, fuel, liquor, and tobacco taxes, and rivalling the tally from corporate income taxes, government attention was elsewhere. "
" … two of Canada’s foremost gambling researchers, Garry Smith and Harold J. Wynne, released a damning report on vlt gambling in Alberta. It concluded that the province had the highest percapita gambling losses ($781 in 2002) in Canada, and that Alberta vlts had the highest daily sales. In Fort McMurray alone, just ninety-one vlts produced a $20-million profit in 2003. The report noted that Alberta would have to raise taxes by $214 a person to replace gambling income and claimed that more than half of all vlt players in the province were probably addicted."
For the full story see:
http://www.walrusmagazine.com/print/society-albertas-gamble-with-gambling/
