14-Dec-05. Stoney Nation gets casino injunction. Calgary Herald, B2.

In this news brief, a Calgary judge has ruled that three women protesting the construction of a casino on the Stoney Nation must allow the development to continue. The interim injunction expires on February 15th to allow the three sisters arguing title to the property to secure legal funding.

13-Dec-05. Casino gets court OK to build for limited time, at band’s risk. Edmonton Journal, B5.

Justice Adele Kent granted an interim injunction on Monday that will allow construction of a casino on the Stoney Reserve to continue until February 15th. Protesters trying to stop construction say that the land where the band plans to build has been in their family since before a treaty established the Stoney Reserve. Kent ruled that the $30-million casino at Highway 40 and the Trans-Canada Highway can proceed but the Stoney Nation is only doing so at their risk.

13-Dec-05. Casino OK’d in court battle. Calgary Sun, 22.

A Calgary judge ruled yesterday that protesters trying to block development of a casino on Stoney land along the Trans-Canada Highway must let the project proceed. Judge Kent said allowing protesters to continue blocking construction could cause the Stoney Nation irreparable economic harm. If it turns out the land belongs to three Stoney sisters, the band must return it to its pristine form.

7-Dec-05. Bids for local horse race track examined. Red Deer Advocate, A2.

Several bidders are in the running to build a horse race track and gambling centre in the Red Deer area. Horse Race Alberta, which regulates horse racing, has received bids from prospective developers after a call went out in early November. Rocky Mountain Turf Club Inc., which runs a Lethbridge track, wants to build a race track complex which would include 99 Vegas-style slot machines, a sports bar, and simulcast betting.

8-Dec-05. Alberta must control its ‘embarrassment of riches’. Edmonton Journal, B1.

This article reviews the major sources of Alberta’s provincial income over the past year. It is reported that the province collected $1.3-billion from gaming, $1.3-billion from conventional crude oil royalties, $4.6-billion in personal income taxes, $718-million from oilsands revenues, and $6.4-billion from natural gas.

8-Dec-05. New casino’s a good bet. Calgary Sun, 10.

The Calgary Stampede will start work on a new hotel and casino within a year after landing an $80-million credit guarantee from the City of Calgary. Stampede Chairman Steve Allan said negotiations are underway with a hotel developer which, if successful, will see the construction of a hotel and casino on the north end of the park. According to Allen, the current casino is underperforming and the new facility will be the best casino in the marketplace.

8-Dec-05. Klein’s ban on booze relaxes just a little. Edmonton Journal, A1.

In this article, Alberta Premier Ralph Klein is interviewed and says that his self-imposed abstinence from alcohol loosened slightly as he had an occasional drink this past year. Klein is also known to frequent casinos and says that he sets an annual budget of $1,000 at the beginning of the year. The premier plays poker and limits his betting to $10 per bet.

7-Dec-05. Transat head says tourism facing ‘national emergency’. Globe and Mail, B5.

Montreal-based tour operator Transat A.T. Inc. has thrown its support behind a proposal by Quebec’s lottery corporation to build an international casino and entertainment complex south of Montreal’s downtown. Transat Chairman Jean-Marc Eustache says that the casino would be a destination that would help to attract more visitors from the United States. Critics suggest that moving the existing casino to this neighborhood would increase the rate of criminal activity and gambling addiction in the area.

5-Dec-05. Put me in, coach… all in! Edmonton Journal, D12.

Poker coach Grant Kendall of Edmonton is profiled in this article that discusses basic game strategies. Kendall notes that in poker, unlike other casino gambling, players are competing against others at the table instead of against the house. He also says that Edmonton has become a hotbed for the game and mentions the city’s blue collar nature, long winters, and sports mentality as possible explanations for this popularity. PokerPulse estimates that more than 1.8-million people play poker each month and that the poker industry generates $2.2-billion in annual gross revenue.

3-Dec-05. Cribbage crackdown. Calgary Herald, A28.

This editorial criticizes a decision by Alberta Gaming to shut down a cribbage game played by a group of Lethbridge seniors because a small amount of prize money was involved. The editorialist says that the province does not have the same concern for those seniors who gambling at casinos and bingo parlours where the province gets a share of the house winnings.

2-Dec-05. Cribbage crackdown. Lethbridge Herald, A1.

The enforcement arm of the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission (AGLC) recently sent out warnings to the Edmonton Army and Navy Veterans club that hosting crib tournaments involving payouts or entry fees must stop immediately. Mona Templeton of the Lethbridge Legion fears fines of even club closures could follow if the warning goes unheeded. An AGLC spokesperson says the act of exchanging cash during card games in a licenced establishment constitutes gambling and it’s against the law. Crib is not recognized by the AGLC as a classified card game nor as a charitable gaming event like bingo or raffles.

2-Dec-05. Winning and fun begin at The Fort. Edmonton Sun, W16.

This advertising-style article provides details on the Fort Road Bingo Association’s new facility which opened in Edmonton on November 16th. The facility is billed as the first of its kind in Alberta and features a dozen flat screen televisions, a VLT (video lottery terminal) area, keno gaming, and bingo. The article notes that the Edmonton bingo industry has seen a steady decline in revenues over the past several years due to the inception of VLTs, expanded casino operations, and a city non-smoking bylaw that took effect this year.

1-Dec-05. Seniors forced to fold cribbage hands. Calgary Herald, B3.

A group of Lethbridge seniors who spice up their regular cribbage card game at the Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans Club with small cash prizes is being shut down by the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission. The seniors charged a $10 per couple admission to cover the costs of coffee and cash prizes up to $100. The issue first arose when a complaint was filed with the commission against a club in Edmonton holding crib games for money without a gambling licence.