I need some more information to give some meaning to the figures cited.

Realizing that there are social problems associated with gambling which are no doubt proliferated by having gambling so readily available, I would like to deal with the money side first.

I would like to know whether anyone has tried to come up with a guesstimate of whether this community has a net financial benefit or loss from the dollars bet here.

So, how much do we put into the sytem, how much is paid back out to the winners directly, how much is taken by the casino owners, how much gets returned to the province and how much of that do they then pay out to the municipal government and how much to service organizations which have access to gaming money?

At the end of the day, is it a net gain or a net loss to this community from the dollar point of view before even considering the "cost" of the social costs resulting from gambling.

And, as part of that, how many of the dollars spent gambling in this community come from outsiders who are travelling through and those who live close by and have no facility in their community or not one which attracts them as much has the one here?

Then again, maybe there are no ready answers to such obvious questions and a public inquiry would include such research as part of its objective approach to exploring the negatives and positives of gambling.

While they are at it, they could just continue to study the rest of the vices of humankind which will continue on in one fashion or another no matter what the law says.

I am old enough to remember when it was illegal to gamble yet Irish Sweepstakes tickets went around the office like candy ...

the Irish had a good thing going for a while ... ;-)

I just want to know what the "City" did with all that money? We couldn't stop people from gambling when there were no "legal joints", so we are even less likely to stop them with legal casinos in play.....so if the City can be accountable for the money they make from the bad choices others make, perhaps we should not complain....after all, it's all about the money - always. If someone with power is getting their pocket lined, not much chance things will change....

It is a heartless government which opens the doors for this form of evil to be so available to the voting public. The non gamblers have no perception of how the addicted gambler can be so taken with the Video Lottery Terminals.
First, let me tell you that the operator of the establishment will tell you the pay out is around 92.5% (I am not sure how this figure would vary). The payout is in the area of 68% or 69%. It is calculated not only on the cash out, but all credits acquired on the machine which are spun off are considered in the "pay out" calculation. If you get 50 credits and keep spinning them away, that is considered a pay out.
An addicted gamler actually forms a bond with the V L T the minute he or she sits down to it. The player can totally escape reality, and they exist only with the VLT and it becomes a "love-hate" relationship. They will lovingly pat the machine if it is paying, and they can be seen pounding on the equipment if it is just eating money and credits. A really good gambler can put, and lose $800.00 to $1500.00 in an hour in one V L T. They leave broke, and another player can walk up to the machine, play a couple dollars, and hit a "jackpot." The machine was ready to pay out. I have been told the spins are random, but I find that difficult to believe. They can be switched on and off from hundreds of miles away, plus some types of repairs can be effected. They are simply "computerized equipment." Programming must be an option. The V L T keeps an accurate record of all money put into it. The owner of the establishment can find out at any time during operating hours as to the money put into a machine and the pay out amount. If a machine has taken in a sizeable amount of money and not paid out anything substantial, that is the machine one would play if they had access to the recorded information. The odds would be with you to be on the receiving end.
Gambling in this province is relatively new. One will see many families seriously affected if one of the parents becomes an addicted gambler. Mom will lose the grocery money. Dad will lose the mortgage payment, or car payment, or insurance money, or whatever he has for cash in his pocket. The bank account will be depleted. The kids don't get new boots or clothes. The fights will be horrendous in the homes, emotionally scarring kids for life. There will be endless lies and deceit, as the addicted gambler defends themselves. There will be suicides. There will be theft, even from their own family members. They will all be losers. There will be "NO" winners.
In all probability, the owner of the establishment will receive 15% of the net profit produced by the machine. Just a few machines can bring many many thousands to an establishment yearly. I cannot imagine 360 in one business. The government is very intent at ripping off as much as they can, but it is all voluntary-remember that. They then condone Lotto 649, Super 7, Bingo, pull tabs in bars, various draws on a number of items by charity organizations, plus plus. The gamblers choice becomes endless. He is met with the chance of a "big" win on every corner. The sad part is remembering how many lives are affected by only "ONE" addicted gambler. The purchase of the odd Irish Sweepstakes ticket was a thrill, but what is on the table now for the gambler can prove to be the "end of the road." It is such a "cash cow" for the governments, they have become addicted to all this additional revenue.
We are not informed as to how the money is spent that the city is in receipt of from gambling revenues. Does anyone know???
By the way, is the Mayor back in Mexico??

IMO those are some sad #'s there Bengie. I hope the local owners of the casino are spending their share of the money wisely(because it sure must be a lot). Why not boycott the casino and all of its on site businesses? Why should any extra money be donated to such a pathetic suck on society. But what can we do with ol Gordy running the province, there will probably be 19 more casinos before too long.

listen, be attentive, learn, educate yourself, listen to the spankshow, hey why not it is free!

One must always keep in mind the gamblers are parting with their money willingly. V L T's have been blasted with shotguns, axed, and hammered by losers, but I never saw an "arm twister" on the premises. Alcoholics drink because they want to. Druggies take drugs because they want to. Smokers puff because they want to. Gamblers gamble because they want to. They are all self satisfying habits, and to hell with anyone who even so much as suggests there is a better way of life. How many business people snort cocaine, working hard for the money they prefer to shove up their noses. Is the euphoria they supposedly experience worth it??? Obviously the answer is a resounding, "YES." It must be the same for an alcoholic whose hand trembles as that first glass of the day is raised. The smoker cannot function without the cigarette to sustain them. It is a crutch. The gambler is actually filled with trepidation as he feeds a V L T the first $20.00, as he experiences a sense of loss before even the first spin. Remember the purchases have been made re the other addictions in advance, and a person has something concrete to hold. Gambling is seeing the money go, and one has the opportunity to walk away with nothing but remorse. It is the path of a self destruct mission an addicted gambler is walking. The governments know this, and they are well aware of the destruction gambling has on a family, but they can argue the person is the one making the decision to gamble. The governments across Canada bring in BILLIONS of dollars through gambling, cigarettes and liquor, but they bring in NO money through illegal drug useage. Are the "drug lords" so powerful they are untouchable???? Who knows?
The V L T's are here to stay. Governments cannot, nor are they prepared to, relinquish this "cash cow." If they were against harmful addictions, there would be no sales of alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and no casinos, along with Lotto's, bingo, etc etc.
Wealth retained among the public would bring them power. The people will never have power in Canada.We are seemingly programmed to become addicted to some vice. Have you chosen yours???