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25-May-07. Charges laid in gambling scam. Globe and Mail (Metro Ed, ON), A10.

After a four-year investigation by the Ontario Provincial Police, the FBI and eight state police forces, 15 people were arrested on charges of conspiracy, fraud and cheating at play. The criminal organization took in more than two million dollars while playing mini-baccarat at casinos, and using a "false shuffle" cheat by bribing card dealers.

25-May-07. Tocchet getting his day in court. Globe and Mail (Metro Ed, ON), S3.

National Hockey League assistant coach Rick Tocchet will appear in court today on charges related to sports betting. The charges stem from an investigation into illegal gambling that also alleged the involvement of Janet Gretzky, James Harney and James Ulmer. There is speculation that this unexpected court date means that Tocchet will either plead guilty or that the charges will be entirely dropped.

24-May-07. Casino icon cashes in for $22M. Calgary Herald, A1.

Frank Sisson, owner of Calgary's Silver Dollar Casino and Entertainment Centre, has agreed to sell the business to the Evergreen Gaming Corporation. The complex, which includes 504 slot machines, 25 VLT's, 20 gaming tables, a bowling alley, theatre and convention centre, employs 180 people. Sisson will continue on as the general manager of the organization's operations for the first two years after the sale.

12-May-07. Atlantic Lottery Corp. under police probe. Calgary Herald, A11.

The Atlantic Lottery Corporation is currently under investigation by police, and has handed over files pertaining to retailer winnings. An independent investigation found that various lottery retailers have won a total of over $14 million by pocketing 85 winning tickets.

09-May-07. Atlantic provinces to review lottery games after discrepancies found. National Post, A5.

The Atlantic provincial governments have requested a review of all Atlantic Lottery Corporation procedures. Lottery retail owners in those provinces are ten times more likely to win major prizes than should be expected. The review will be conducted by an independent body within the next year.

09-May-07. Maritimes determined to make lotteries honest. Edmonton Journal, A5.

The Atlantic provincial governments have requested a review of all Atlantic Lottery Corporation procedures. Lottery retail owners in those provinces are ten times more likely to win major prizes than should be expected. The review will be conducted by an independent body within the next year.

27-Apr-07. Governments big winners in gambling industry. Edmonton Journal, A7.

An economic report by the Canadian Gaming Association found huge profits were made last year by the industry – over $15-billion. Critics of the study say that while the report addresses economic benefits, including the portions of gambling monies given to provincial and federal governments, along with charities and retailers, it fails to address the social costs and impacts of problem gambling.

27-Apr-07. Canadians spent $14.5-billion gambling in 2006, study find. Globe and Mail, A5.

An economic report by the Canadian Gaming Association found huge profits were made last year by the industry – over $15-billion. Critics of the study say that while the report addresses economic benefits, including the portions of gambling monies given to provincial and federal governments, along with charities and retailers, it fails to address the social costs and impacts of problem gambling.

27-Apr-07. Gambling habit costs Canadians $14.5B. Calgary Herald, A7.

An economic report by the Canadian Gaming Association found huge profits were made last year by the industry – over $15-billion. Critics of the study say that while the report addresses economic benefits, including the portions of gambling monies given to provincial and federal governments, along with charities and retailers, it fails to address the social costs and impacts of problem gambling.

27-Apr-07. Bill aims to lift ban on online gambling. National Post, FP7.

Democratic Rep. Barney Frank (Massachusetts) has proposed a bill to end the ban on online gambling in the U.S. The ban has been in place since last year, making it illegal for banks and credit card companies to pay online gambling sites. There is currently only limited support for the lifting of this ban, but Frank hopes his support base will grow.

24-Apr-07. U.S. may lose bet against gambling. National Post, FP1.

On March 30, a World Trade Organization tribunal handed down a potentially significant finding against U.S. restrictions on Internet gambling. The panel was set up at the request of Antigua and Barbuda, who complained that the United States had not complied with an earlier WTO decision to change the way that it regulates gambling over the Internet.

6-Apr-07. New owners improve odds for revamped Baccarat. Edmonton Journal, E6.

Baccarat Casino in Edmonton could expand more quickly after being bought by New World Gaming Partners Ltd., which is also expected to buy the Gateway Casinos Income Fund. The Baccarat, on the northwest corner of 101st Street and 104th Avenue, is owned and operated by the managers of the income fund, but has remained outside the fund.

5-Apr-07. Australian high roller tries his luck in Canada. National Post, FP1.

New World Gaming Partners Ltd., a joint venture between James Packer’s Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd. and Australia’s Macquarie Bank, yesterday offered to buy Gateway Casinos Income Fund for $800-million. Gateway has seven casinos in British Columbia and Alberta and provincial regulators in those provinces will both have to approve the deal.

5-Apr-07. Australian group gambles on Gateway. Globe and Mail, B3.

An Australian consortium is buying Gateway Casinos Income Fund for $800-million. The partnership, which has been named New World Gaming Partners Ltd. will also but related private development and operating businesses, with a combined enterprise value of $1.37-billion. New World will be picking up nine Canadian casinos.

5-Apr-07. Many lottery questions, few answers. Globe and Mail, A8.

The revelation that the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. allowed unscrupulous retailers to collect $100-M in fraudulent prizes since 1999 has dominated the legislature for eight sessions.

6-Apr-07. $11M Alta. lottery fund red flagged for lacking guidelines. Edmonton Journal, A7.

The Alberta Liberals assert that an obscure $11-M government lottery fund known as the Other Initiative Program has no guidelines associated with it and is an invitation for corruption. The Other Initiatives Program is designed to provide funding for projects that fall outside other existing government programs.

6-Apr-07. Liberals keep up lottery grants attack. Calgary Herald, A4.

The Alberta Liberals assert that an obscure $11-M government lottery fund known as the Other Initiative Program has no guidelines associated with it and is an invitation for corruption. The Other Initiatives Program is designed to provide funding for projects that fall outside other existing government programs.

4-Apr-07. Police to assist in lottery probe. Globe and Mail, A9.

Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Julian Fantino has asked the Toronto Police Service to investigate the potential conflict of interest posed by one of his own officers formerly serving as head of security at the province’s embattled lottery corporation.

2-Apr-07. Are casino boards a stacked deck? Edmonton Journal, A6.

The men chairing the boards of two new Alberta First Nations casinos are reported to be political veterans. Bob Westbury heads the seven-member River Cree Casino board and Peter Elzinga is the chairs the Alexis board. Liberal solicitor-general critic Mo Elsalhy said the appointments don’t pass the “smell test” because Westbury and Elzinga have access to political power and decision-makers that most Albertans don’t have.

2-Apr-07. Caught in the grip of the ‘almighty VLT’. Globe and Mail, A7.

The second part of the government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s VLT reduction strategy began yesterday and involved reduced operating hours, a slower rate of play, and 105 fewer machines. By the end of the five-year plan, the number of VLTs is to be reduced by 15 per cent.

2-Apr-07. Chief ready for change. Edmonton Journal, A6.

This article profiles band chief Cameron Alexis of the Alexis Nakota Sioux First Nation near Whitecourt. The band is currently partnering with Paragon Gaming to develop the Eagle River casino.

2-Apr-07. Competing casino bids split native tribes. Calgary Herald, D15.

Two neighbouring First Nations – Samson and Louis Bull – are competing to build a casino near Hobbema, north of Red Deer, Alberta. The band that ultimately builds the project will gain jobs and revenues that will fund social programs in the community. The Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission will allow only one casino near Hobbema, and has urged the two bands to build the project together.

2-Apr-07. The woman who brought Las Vegas to Edmonton. Edmonton Journal, A6.

Diana Bennett of Paragon Gaming first began her involvement with Enoch Cree’s plans to develop Alberta’s first aboriginal casino six year ago. The $178-million River Cree Casino opened last year and now Paragon is also building Alberta’s second-biggest First Nation casino, the Alexis Nakota Sioux’s $63.5-million project near Whitecourt.

31-Mar-07. WTO rules against online betting ban. National Post, FP1.

The United States ignored a ruling that found it discriminates against foreign gambling companies by banning payments to gaming Web sites while allowing bets on its own soil, the World Trade Organization’s highest judges said.

31-Mar-07. Gambling experts succumb. Calgary Herald, B2.

This article reports on a two-day conference on gambling-related harm that has attracted more than 100 experts on gambling addictions. The conference is being hosted by the Alberta Gaming Research Institute, a collaboration of the University of Calgary, the University of Alberta and the University of Lethbridge. A five-year institute-funded longitudinal study, one of the most thorough undertaken anywhere, is currently following a group of 1,800 Alberta gamblers.

31-Mar-07. Winner takes all in Hobbema. Edmonton Journal, A1.

Two neighbouring First Nations – Samson and Louis Bull – are competing to build a casino near Hobbema, north of Red Deer, Alberta. The band that ultimately builds the project will gain jobs and revenues that will fund social programs in the community. The Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission will allow only one casino near Hobbema, and has urged the two bands to build the project together. University of Lethbridge native studies professor Yale Belanger notes that teamwork is not encouraged when there is so much potential revenue at stake.

31-Mar-07. First Nations hope winnings will cure a host of social ills. Edmonton Journal, A15.

The Tsuu T’ina First Nation west of Calgary hopes that its $40-million Eaglestone Casino will generate enough revenue to solve the reserve’s housing shortage. Across the province of Alberta, several other Alberta First Nations are anticipating that casino developments will provide economic development opportunities. Alexis Whitecourt, Cold Lake and Stoney Nakoda will all build casinos in the next year following the lead of Enoch’s River Cree development on Edmonton’s western border.

31-Mar-07. Bishop applauds casino fund ban. Calgary Herald, B2.

Bishop Fred Henry, the head of Calgary’s Catholic community, is relieved that the Calgary Catholic School District has banned all gambling-related fundraisers by March 1, 2010. Henry acknowledged it will be difficult for some schools to wean themselves off of the $2-million generated annually by casino and bingos which is why he supported the three-year grace period.

30-Mar-07. Parents can live with school casino ban. Calgary Herald, B2.

Catholic parents on both sides of the gambling controversy are relived the Catholic School District has decide to ban schools from profiting from casino and bingo fundraisers.

29-Mar-07. Catholic board sets deadline to stop gaming. Calgary Herald, B6.

Calgary Catholic school board trustees voted almost unanimously to establish a drop-dead date of March 1, 2010 to prohibit schools raising money through casinos and bingos.