When Governments embark on the slippery slope of endorsing Gambling Addiction as a source of revenue with little consideration of the consequences, they fail their ethical obligations.
When revenues declined, Canada abandoned sensible loss limits.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts refused to even consider those loss limits in the flawed legislation that was passed by Beacon Hill last year.
Province looks to 'jazz up' video lottery games
Profitability ignoring social harms: critics
The Alberta Liquor and Gaming Commission is looking to hire a research consultant to help find more exciting, more profitable VLT games to replace the province's soon-to-be obsolete machines.
But while Albertans continue to spend an eye-popping $23 billion on lottery tickets, slots and VLTs, critics are calling for an equal effort by the province to ensure new VLTs also help put stricter limits on out-of-control gambling.
"The intention seems to be how can we jazz up the new machines," says Dr. Robert Williams, health sciences professor at the University of Lethbridge and research co-ordinator for the Alberta Gaming Research Institute.
"But where is the consideration on how to ensure things are delivered in a responsible way?"
Provincial figures released last fall show gambling revenues fell for a second year in the face of a lingering economic downturn.
David Hodgins, a professor of clinical psychology at the University of Calgary and research co-ordinator with the Alberta Gaming Research Institute, says the province's push for gaming research needs to focus less on profitability and more on social responsibility.
"There's a mandate to promote responsible gambling.
"There has been as many advances in that area as there has been in the flashiness of new machines.
"The government has a dual responsibility for maximizing benefit but also minimizing harm."
Hodgins and Williams say other provinces, and many other countries around the world, have identification cards that set spending limits for VLT usage.
Gamblers can even choose to set their own limits, so that if they walk into a bar and gamble away $200, the card won't allow them to spend more at that location, or any other across the province.
Hutchings-Mah admits other provinces and countries offer the cards, but Alberta does not.
She says that VLTs already provide pop-up reminders to gamblers about how much they've spent, and other awareness messaging to reduce addiction risks.
According to the Alberta Gaming Research Institute, two to three per cent of the population has a gambling addiction.
"But they all have families, so eight to 10 per cent are actually affected," Williams said. "That's a general impact the province should be concerned about."
Williams notes a new report to be published by the institute this April will show that the majority of gambling revenues come from a small minority of the population, most of which are addicted gamblers.
"Roughly 75 per cent of gambling revenue comes from slots and VLTs," Williams said.
"But only 25 per cent of Albertans actually use them, and only a tiny minority of them account for the lion's share of provincial gambling revenues.
"The question to the province is who are these people and what kinds of ethical quandaries exist here?"
© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald
Province looks to 'jazz up' video lottery games
Profitability ignoring social harms: critics
The Alberta Liquor and Gaming Commission is looking to hire a research consultant to help find more exciting, more profitable VLT games to replace the province's soon-to-be obsolete machines.
But while Albertans continue to spend an eye-popping $23 billion on lottery tickets, slots and VLTs, critics are calling for an equal effort by the province to ensure new VLTs also help put stricter limits on out-of-control gambling.
"The intention seems to be how can we jazz up the new machines," says Dr. Robert Williams, health sciences professor at the University of Lethbridge and research co-ordinator for the Alberta Gaming Research Institute.
"But where is the consideration on how to ensure things are delivered in a responsible way?"
Provincial figures released last fall show gambling revenues fell for a second year in the face of a lingering economic downturn.
David Hodgins, a professor of clinical psychology at the University of Calgary and research co-ordinator with the Alberta Gaming Research Institute, says the province's push for gaming research needs to focus less on profitability and more on social responsibility.
"There's a mandate to promote responsible gambling.
"There has been as many advances in that area as there has been in the flashiness of new machines.
"The government has a dual responsibility for maximizing benefit but also minimizing harm."
Hodgins and Williams say other provinces, and many other countries around the world, have identification cards that set spending limits for VLT usage.
Gamblers can even choose to set their own limits, so that if they walk into a bar and gamble away $200, the card won't allow them to spend more at that location, or any other across the province.
Hutchings-Mah admits other provinces and countries offer the cards, but Alberta does not.
She says that VLTs already provide pop-up reminders to gamblers about how much they've spent, and other awareness messaging to reduce addiction risks.
According to the Alberta Gaming Research Institute, two to three per cent of the population has a gambling addiction.
"But they all have families, so eight to 10 per cent are actually affected," Williams said. "That's a general impact the province should be concerned about."
Williams notes a new report to be published by the institute this April will show that the majority of gambling revenues come from a small minority of the population, most of which are addicted gamblers.
"Roughly 75 per cent of gambling revenue comes from slots and VLTs," Williams said.
"But only 25 per cent of Albertans actually use them, and only a tiny minority of them account for the lion's share of provincial gambling revenues.
"The question to the province is who are these people and what kinds of ethical quandaries exist here?"
© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald
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