11-Jan-06. Government can’t scratch addicts’ itch. Calgary Sun, 10.

Garry Smith, an Albertan expert on gambling, said compulsive scratch-and-win players exist in the province but their problems are minor in comparison to those who are addicted to electronic gambling machines. Smith says that machines account for 80 per cent of gambling problems. Both Smith and Robyn Cochrane of the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission said it was probably unrealistic to expect ticket vendors to screen out customers with gambling addictions.