Gaming Fund Pool Drying Up for Community Groups

Monday, November 01, 2010 08:27 PM

Prince George, B.C.- Community groups are in a tough spot when it comes to funding from gaming funds, says Chris Bone, Manager of Social Development.

She told Council there are three challenges facing community groups:

1. Funding distribution is now limited to groups that address public safety, health and social services, and youth programs. Parent Advisory Councils are also eligible for funding.

The former Arts, Culture and Sports category has been refocused. The Arts and Culture category now makes funding available for youth arts and culture initiatives as well as fairs, festivals and museums. The Sport category funds eligible groups to provide sports programs for youth and/or for people with disabilities.

School playgrounds, adult sports, environmental programs and services, and adult arts and culture initiatives are no longer eligible for community gaming grant funding.

2. Groups have to apply for funding annually where they used to be approved in three year increments. The annual approval provides undue hardship on many groups.

3.The amount of gaming funding flowing into the community has dropped significantly, nearly a million dollars over the past year.

While some Councillors are under the impression gambling revenue in the province is up, that is not the case. The most recent annual report from the B.C. Lottery Corporation indicates revenue from gaming is down across the Province. (see previous story)

Only four of the 17 casinos in the province saw gains in gaming activity meaning the overall revenue from gaming was down $19.7 million over the previous year, and down $77.4 million from the projected budgets.

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Posted on Monday, November 01, 2010 08:27 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Oldun on November 1 2010 8:40 PM

Not to mention the effects of this on the Seniors and their programs.

Posted by: He spoke on November 1 2010 10:04 PM

Blah, blah , blah. all they want is money for nothing

Posted by: Harbinger on November 1 2010 10:16 PM

Maybe it's one way of getting some of our over taxed funds back. We do pay a lot of taxes, if ya din't know.

Posted by: Oldun on November 1 2010 11:13 PM

He spoke - I can only assume that you are talking about Gord's government

Posted by: seamutt on November 1 2010 11:40 PM

Fiberals get first dibs on the funds or how else can they pay for the BC place roof that cannot be opened or closed if its raining or windy. Interesting how we find out this little detail after the fact.

Posted by: gus on November 2 2010 8:37 AM

"Interesting how we find out this little detail after the fact."

Especially since we have gone through that same fiasco with the retractable roof over the stadium in Montreal.

Posted by: Palopu on November 2 2010 9:14 PM

A huge portion of the Revenue from the Casino's comes from Seniors. They are in there all day and night gambling away their money. So are a lot of low income earners, and people on income assistance.

Where the hell do people think this money comes from. Try everyday workers, housewives, etc; etc; etc;. In other words, the same people that want the grants.

In North Central BC the population has decreased. Over the past 10 years or more, people have been losing large sums of money at the Casino's. People have lost their homes, and other material things. Familys have been distressed by gambling.

At some point people run out of disposable income, they spend their savings, and retirement money on gambling, and are then dependent on their old age pensions, canada pensions, etc; Once they reach this point they start to lose a hell of a lot less money (mainly because they have none) and as a consequence gambling revenues go down.

Gambling revenues will continue to decrease in this area as long as we remain in this recession. So dont hold your breath waiting for more money from the Lottery Corporation because its not coming.