Panel data provided by Madison's Canadian Lumber Reporter.

Government's Hooked on Gambling? Odds Are in Favour of Yes.

By Ben Meisner

With $ 950 million dollars rolling into the provincial coffers last year, on a par with the money the government collects in stumpage, so  do you think that any attention will be paid to the latest report on gambling in this country?  Short answer…never!  

Governments have become addicted to gaming in this country at the peril of the citizens. 

We have 19 casinos in this province (the highest number in the country) and that number is expected to grow. The province is up to its eyebrows in trying to extract more money from the public and it is doing a hell of a job. 

In Canada last year, the average household spent $1080.00 on gambling , on education the average household spent $1007.00 , that speaks volumes about where we are heading. When they were in power, the NDP said at first no gambling in this province, then the addiction became too great and they bought in. 

The Liberals of course said there would be no increase in gaming (remember) well except those licenses that we have to disperse right now that we had in our desk before the election that we neglected to tell you about. 

Gambling in Canada has had a 275% growth since 1992, that figure is unheard of in any other business. 

According to Colin Campbell (I’m sure not related to Gordon) who is one of three who just published a study which says tens of thousands of people in Canada are addicted to gambling and will resort to crime in order to get the money for the machines. 

According to this criminologist they are turning to crime every day in order to try and feed the habit. 

I recall in my Radio days being visited by a man who owned a trucking company.  He asked for help saying that while he was in the bush trying to make money, his wife had blown all the truck payments, house payments and even some weeks the food money in order to feed her habit. They lost the whole works and he was trying to get her to seek help. 

Want some horror stories?  We have plenty in this city. But will you hear any complaints from say City Hall on the matter?  City Hall is also hooked  With $1,772,970.00 in revenue to the city last year from gambling, you won't hear any complaints from City Hall.

So the vicious cycle continues, more people getting hooked which the Casinos love, more government getting money and more city hall cashing in on the swindle. 

For being so smart, we really aren’t now are we?

That, is one man's opinion.
Previous Story - Next Story



Return to Home