26-Aug-06. Ban may choke bingo cash. Calgary Sun, 10.

Some Calgary charities are predicting that the city’s January 2007 smoking ban will negatively impact their revenues from bingo operations. In Edmonton, bingo profits for charities dropped 53 per cent in the year after the city smoking ban started in July, 2005. According to Dana Russell, manager of the North Glenmore Park Community Hall, a drop in bingo revenues is a sign of the times due to competition from casinos and VLTs.

25-Aug-06. Under the ‘B’: Burned. Edmonton Sun, 7.

Figures from the first full year of Edmonton’s smoking ban which began on July 1, 2005 indicate that charitable proceeds from these events declined by $6.8-million or 53 per cent. During the past year, bingo profits in the rest of Alberta – where smoking is generally permitted – dropped one per cent. City councilor Michael Phair said the decline in bingo attendance indicates that the province should consider new ways to fund charitable groups.

24-Aug-06. A college survival guide for guys. Calgary Herald, E2.

This article describes several health risks confronted by new college and university students. Policies regarding gambling on campus vary considerably between universities. Research undertaken by Robert Williams and Dennis Connolly of the University of Lethbridge found that an increase in knowledge and skill was not associated with any decreases in actual gambling behaviour.

23-Aug-06. On-line gambling firms seek safer bets outside U.S. Globe and Mail, B7.

Online gambling companies are seeking out new markets after the recent demise of Betonsports PLC in the United States. U.S. actions against the company have caused widespread disarray in the $13-billion (U.S.) industry which relies heavily on American gamblers. The Europe market is also facing regulatory uncertainty after the betting licence of an Austrian company was deemed invalid for Internet gambling.

20-Aug-06. The lure of addiction. Calgary Herald, B1.

This in-depth article describes the experiences of a Calgary woman whose husband committed suicide after struggling with pathological gambling and depression. More than 1.2-million Canadians exhibit at least one symptom of problem gambling, with more than 20 suicides attributed to gambling each year. David Hodgins, a professor of clinical psychology at the University of Calgary, says about one per cent of Albertans are pathological gamblers.

18-Aug-06. $40M native casino reined in as costs rise. Calgary Herald, B7.

Proponents of a $40-million casino and resort development in Kananaskis Country say that rising construction costs will mean a reduction in the scale of the development. Trez McCaskill, band administrator for the Stoney Nakoda Nation, said the final cost of the casino itself will determine whether the size and number of accomodation units will have to be reduced.

12-Aug-06. Bets are off. Calgary Sun, 5.

Cathie Williams, the head of Calgary’s Catholic school board say that her board will not be giving Bishop Fred Henry a firm date for when schools will stop fundraising using casinos and bingos. She speaks of a need for dialogue between the board and the bishop in order to come to a common understanding. The article author notes that the church is not a democracy and the bishop has ruled raising money for Catholic schools though casinos and bingos is immoral.

12-Aug-06. BetOnSports folds U.S. gambling service. Globe and Mail, B7.

This newsbrief reports that BetOnSports PLC, the British-based Internet gambling company that has been charged with fraud and racketeering in the United States, will shut down its services for U.S. gamblers.

11-Aug-06. Bishop all-in on gambling ban. Calgary Sun, 5.

Early next month, Calgary Bishop Fred Henry will meet with the city's Catholic school board and inform it that schools must stop fundraising through casinos and bingos because the practice is "morally problematic." The bishop is willing to discuss how long it will take for local Catholic schools to find outher ways to raise money. The bishop will not be presiding at the Calgary Catholic School District mass marking the beginning of the school year.

5-Aug-06. Destination-style casino taking shape on Edmonton’s western edge. Edmonton Journal, E1.

The River Cree Resort and Casino is rapidly taking shape on the Enoch Cree First Nation Reserve west of Edmonton. The sprawling $180-million complex will be open to the public in late October and will be Alberta’s largest destination resort casino. The resort is a partnership between Las Vegas-based Paragon Gaming and Enoch Community Developments Corp. Paragon is also in the process of acquiring the Edgewater casino in downtown Vancouver and has plan to build a third casino in Whitecourt, Alberta – The Alexis Casino and Travel Plaza.

5-Aug-06. Gambling madness: Betting our brain cells away. Globe and Mail, F3.

This article discusses a series of North American gambling-related events and general trends that the author has observed over the past few years. Ultimately, the author says that the most rationale course of action when dealing with the issue of gambling is to ensure that it is well-regulated.

2-Aug-06. Horse track plans embraced in Lacombe. Red Deer Advocate, A1.

At an open house on Tuesday, property owner Robert Allen of Calgary and Max Gibb, CEO of the Rocky Mountain Turf Club in Lethbridge, laid out plans to build a $12-million to $15-million horse racing centre in Lacombe. Horse Racing Alberta has given approval in principle to the pari-mutuel licence but a formal application is required for the plan to move ahead.

31-Jul-06. Gambling deals blow to youth. Calgary Sun, 22.

Several surveys, including a 2005 study by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, have found young people are twice as likely to develop serious gambling problems as adults. John Macdonald, a youth specialist with the centre’s problem gambling service, said the numbers are in line with his recent experiences treating young gambling addicts. Robert Williams, a professor with the University of Lethbridge and Alberta Gaming Research Institute said youth are frequently in denial about their problems.

30-Jul-06. Church leaders confront gambling morality debate. Calgary Herald, B6.

This article reports that the morality debate over using dollars from casinos, lottery tickets and bingos to do good works has never been more intense. According to Ernie McCullough, a philosophy professor at St. Mary’s University College in Calgary, the central issue in both a secular morality and a faith-centred morality is the notion of virtue. The gambling morality debate became front-page news in Calgary this spring with the rift between Catholic Bishop Fred Henry and the city’s Catholic school board.

28-Jul-06. Internet gaming addiction on the rise. Red Deer Advocate, C7.

Internet and gaming addiction are on the increase and physiotherapists and psychologists report that the debilitating side-effects are also rising. Physiotherapist Marc Rizzardo estimates that 20 per cent of the business walking through the doors of physiotherapists across Canada might be linked to computer use or misuse. Montreal psychologist Jean-Pierre Rochon specializes in the emotional problems that confront victims of Internet addiction and he says that they account for 70 per cent of his patients.

26-Jul-06. Smoking decision may face appeal. Calgary Sun, 5.

Bar and bingo operators disgruntled with a fast-tracked smoking ban say they’ll be exploring legal avenues to modify the January 1, 2007 prohibition. Dennis Kronberger, general manager of the Bingo Palace, said the ban could see two of the city’s eight bingo parlours go under by next summer.

26-Jul-06. Bodog boss Ayre steers clear of U.S. Globe and Mail, B1.

Last week’s arrest of a British gaming executive in the United States has cast a pall over the online gambling sector, which is largely based in Britain. Internet gambling stock prices have been undercut and there are concerns that Internet sports betting and casino operations could be facing a serious crackdown. An international gambling conference hosted by Calvin Ayre’s Bodog Entertainment Group that was scheduled for Las Vegas was recently cancelled.

26-Jul-06. Online gambling firm fires CEO. Calgary Herald, D3.

Online gambling company BetOnSports PLC said Tuesday it had fired its chief executive after his arrest in the United States on racketeering charges. The sports-betting website operator said it was terminating the contract of David Carruthers and removing him as a director as a consequence of his detention.

23-Jul-06. Odds against U.S. gamblers. Calgary Sun, 12.

Online sports betting firms employing thousands of Costa Ricans could eventually turn away U.S. gamblers after the arrest in Texas this week of a leading industry executive but it remains business as usual at present. Although online gambling is not explicitly illegal in the U.S., the U.S. Justice Department says it is barred under the U.S. Wire Wager Act.

22-Jul-06. Bail hearing postponed for head of online gambling firm. Lethbridge Herald, E6.

David Carruthers, chief executive of BetOnSports PLC, a major online sports-betting operation, remained in custody Friday on racketeering and conspiracy charges after his lawyer asked that a bail hearing be postponed. Carruthers and 10 others, including the founder of BetOnSports, were named in a 22-count indictment unsealed this week be federal prosecutors in St. Louis. The government says BetOnSports fraudulently took bets from U.S. residents by phone and the Internet, and failed to pay excise taxes.

22-Jul-06. Gambling conference postponed after arrest. Calgary Herald, C6.

Due to the high-profile arrest of a British gambling executive in Texas on Sunday, the Bodog.com online gambling conference has been postponed due to concerns from many prospective delegates. Bodog.com is a private company whose gambling operations are located in Costa Rica and it gleans the majority of its business from U.S. residents.

22-Jul-06. Bodog cancels Las Vegas gambling conference. Globe and Mail, B6.

Bodog Entertainment Group, an operator of several online gambling sites, said that it had cancelled an Internet gambling conference set to begin next week in Las Vegas following the U.S. government crackdown on operators of gambling web sites.

20-Jul-06. The chips are down for casinos. Globe and Mail, B3.

The rising Canadian dollar, soaring gas prices and tighter restrictions on smoking are all harming Canada’s casino industry. Yesterday, Casino Windsor cited these factors as it laid off 329 employees due to declining revenues. Other casinos across the country are facing similar issues according to Bill Rutsey, president and chief executive officer of the Canadian Gaming Association. Rutsey also cited the rapid growth of on-line gambling as the biggest long-term issue facing the industry.

20-Jul-06. Ayre defends online casino. Edmonton Journal, G2.

Canadian billionaire Calvin Ayre, founder and CEO of Internet casino Bodog.com, said Tuesday the arrest of a U.S. online gambling executive would not threaten his industry and his business will operate as usual. The U.S. crackdown on online gambling prompted concern Tuesday among government officials in Antigua, which has become an offshore haven for the industry.

19-Jul-06. All bets are off! Edmonton Sun, 36.

This newsbrief reports that U.S. federal officials have charged 11 people, including the CEO of a large gambling web site, alleging they committed conspiracy, racketeering and fraud in taking sports bets from U.S. residents. The Justice Department is seeking the forfeiture of $4.5-billion U.S., cars and computers from the defendants.

12-Jul-06. U.S. moving to limit access to online gambling. Lethbridge Herald, B8.

The House of Representatives passed legislation on Tuesday that would prevent gamblers from using credit cards to bet online and could block access to gambling web sites. The legislation would clarify and update current law to spell out that most gambling is illegal online. There would be exceptions for state-run lotteries and horse racing. Passage of the legislation in the Senate is uncertain as Republican leaders have not considered the measure a high priority.

12-Jul-06. U.S. bans Net gambling. Edmonton Journal, G2.

The House of Representatives approved a measure to stifle online gambling in the United States by restricting the flow of money to illegal Internet gaming sites. Credit card companies would be forbidden to collect payments for Internet casinos and financial institutions would have to help law-enforcement shut down money transfers to illegal gaming sites under the measure approved on Tuesday.

10-Jul-06. Married to a card shark. National Post, A11.

In this interesting first-person account, the spouse of a full-time poker player describes her family’s lifestyle and the household’s financial ups and downs.

11-Jul-06. Casino bans gamblers with kids left in cars. National Post, A3.

Internal B.C. Lottery Commission records obtained by The Vancouver Sun indicate that more than 41 customers were banned from British Columbia casinos between 2003 to 2005 for leaving their children along in the car while they go inside. University of Alberta gambling expert Garry Smith said those who leave their children alone are likely gambling addicts, not casual gamblers.

11-Jul-06. B.C. casinos ban gamblers for abandoning kids. Edmonton Journal, A5.

Internal B.C. Lottery Commission records obtained by CanWest News Service indicate that more than 40 people have been banned from British Columbia casinos over the past three years for leaving their children along in the car while they go inside. University of Alberta gambling expert Garry Smith said those who leave their children alone are likely gambling addicts, not casual gamblers.

7-Jul-06. N.J. reaches budget deal. Edmonton Journal, D2.

This newsbrief reports that New Jersey lawmakers reached a deal on the state’s budget Thursday that will allow Atlantic City’s casinos to reopen after they had been forced shut since Wednesday. All 12 of the city’s casinos closed after a budget impasse led to Gov. Jon Corzine shutting down non-essential services.

7-Jul-06. Westerners like a good bet. Edmonton Sun, 4.

A national poll of 1,000 Canadian adults conducted by PokerRoom.com indicates that the national character isn’t as conservative or risk-averse as it’s often portrayed. The survey was conducted by Synovate last January and it found that the further west the respondent lived, the more willing they were to be risk-taking.

6-Jul-06. Casinos hit by state budget impasse. National Post, FP1.

A New Jersey state budget impasse has led to the closures of numerous Atlantic City gambling floors. The closures were ordered when Governor Jon Corzine deemed the 190 inspectors who monitor casino operations “non-essential” state employees. The state’s 12 casinos will lose an estimated $16-million in gambling revenue a day.

4-Jul-06. Casino closings may cost $10-million in wagers daily. Globe and Mail, B5.

The closing of Atlantic City, N.J., casinos will go ahead tomorrow unless New Jersey lawmakers resolve a budget crisis. The shutdown could cost gambling operators more than $10-million (U.S.) per day in wagers. Atlantic City is the second-largest casino market in the U.S. and it took in $5-billion in gross gambling revenue last year.

1-Jul-06. Bishop won’t back down on blacklist. Edmonton Journal, B8.

Roman Catholic bishop Fred Henry of Calgary still says he’ll blacklist schools that don’t stop using bingos and casinos to augment provincial education funding. He says there are other ways Calgary’s separate school board should deal with funding shortfalls, including affluent schools sharing resources with poorer ones.