29-Sep-06. Gambling jackpot in jeopardy. Edmonton Sun, 7.

The Edmonton Catholic school board, in consultation with Archbishop Thomas Collins, will take another look at the practice raising money at casinos and through bingos after it was banned in Calgary this week. Collins has previously called raising money for schools through gambling immoral. Edmonton’s 84 Catholic schools raise more than $3-million a year through gambling to support additional computers, library resources, field trips and phy-ed equipment.

28-Sep-06. Catholic schools fold ‘em. Calgary Herald, B6.

Calgary’s Catholic schools will start to reduce their use of fundraising via gambling sources after an agreement between the school board and Bishop Fred Henry. Parent school councils that have commitments to fundraise by volunteering at casinos through 2006-07 school year will be allowed to fulfill those promises. A task force will be set up in October to develop suggestions for alternative revenue streams.

28-Sep-06. School to stop moral gamble. Calgary Sun, 5.

The Calgary Catholic School board yesterday agreed to stop using casino and bingo halls as fundraising venues after a fierce dispute and threats of sanction by church authorities. Board chair Cathie Williams said the school district will no longer depend on what she called the morally problematic proceeds of gambling to fund extracurricular programs. The district raises almost $2-million though gambling each year to support such programs.

28-Sep-06. Bishop, school board strike fundraising deal. Calgary Herald, A1.

A deal was reached between the Calgary Catholic school board and Bishop Fred Henry over raising funds by volunteering at local casinos. Parent groups will only be allowed to continue fundraising at casinos through the 2006-07 school year. A task force will be charged with finding other sources of revenue to replace the $2-million collected by the councils at bingos and casinos in a typical year.

28-Sep-06. Upper hand. Calgary Sun, 5.

This editorial-style article discusses the unwillingness f Calgary’s Catholic Bishop Fred Henry to act outside of his strong convictions. Recently, he had demanded the local Catholic school to stop fundraising using casino and bingos because of his belief that the activity is immoral. Yesterday, it was determined that the Catholic school board trustees will formally announce their ban on casino and bingo fundraising on November 1st.

26-Sep-06. CryptoLogic sees greener pastures in Ireland. Globe and Mail, B4.

CryptoLogic Inc., which provides software and electronic payment systems to some of the world’s largest gambling sites, will move its head office from Toronto to Dublin, Ireland. A spokesperson for the company has said that an online gambling crackdown in the United States and arrests of foreign-based industry executives there is purely coincidental. The new headquarters will house only 11 of CryptoLogic’s 400 employees.

26-Sep-06. ‘Online gambing’ mecca beckons CryptoLogic. National Post, FP1.

Toronto-based Internet gambling software developer CryptoLogic Inc. yesterday announced that it will move its head office to Dublin, Ireland in January. The majority of CryptoLogic’s Toronto staff of 250, including its software development team, will remain in the city. A spokesperson said the main driver of the move was the desire to be closer to customers. The company also wanted to move to a gaming-friendly environment.

24-Sep-06. Klein will set the pace in harness racing. Edmonton Journal, A14.

Recently resigned Alberta Premier Ralph Klein will have a horse race in Calgary named for him to recognize his help to the province’s struggling horse racing industry. The industry received a $63-million provincial lottery grant in this year’s budget which is a 45 per cent increase from the $45-million budgeted last year. Horse Racing Alberta chairman David Reid said Klein was instrumental in helping rebuilt horse racing in Alberta by allowing tracks to collect money from slot machines.

24-Sep-06. Gambling-free zone. Edmonton Journal, E2.

This newsbrief notes that the $41-million (Cdn) Kewadin Shores Casino and Hotel in Michigan was built on land where Indian gaming is not permitted. The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians is quickly building a $2.5-million replacement casino facility on a nearby site.

21-Sep-06. Horse-racing industry eager to bring Vegas-style betting to Canada. National Post, B12.

The lobby group representing horse racing tracks in Canada has begun preliminary discussions with the federal government about the possibility of allowing the country’s racetracks to operate sports books on their premises. The Criminal Code of Canada current prohibits wagering on individual sporting events with the exception of horse racing. The federal government currently collects 0.8% of every wager on horse racing made in Canada and could be expected to collect at least that much if sports books were allowed.

20-Sep-06. Will U.S. go after online gambling? You can bet on it. National Post, FP2.

The CEOs of two British Internet gambling sites were arrested this summer when they were changing planes on U.S. soil. The act of accepting bets online is legal in Britain but illegal in the United States. The author of the article points to a number of other instances where the U.S. has exerted its cross-border influence on Canadians. Examples cited were alcohol during the U.S. Prohibition years, uranium production during the Cold War, and companies involvemed with Cuban nickel industry in the 1990s.

20-Sep-06. Local bingos are getting smoked out. Edmonton Sun, 11.

This editorial-type article discusses the smoking ban in the City of Edmonton and its negative effect on charitable bingo halls. A study by the Satellite Bingo Association says that there has been a 25 per cent drop in attendance in the first 12 months of the smoking ban as compared to the previous year. Profit from bingos that go to charitable organizations was also down 53 per cent or $6.8-million.

19-Sep-06. Casino fundraising update expected. Calgary Herald, B2.

An update on casino fundraising in Calgary Catholic schools could be released shortly after the school board recently met with Bishop Fred Henry to resolve his ultimatum to ban gambling-generated revenues in schools. Board chairwoman Cathie Williams said the moratorium would be lifted after their final meeting.

19-Sep-06. Another bingo bites the dust. Edmonton Sun, 9.

Edmonton's Crest Bingo, which ran out of the Beverly Crest Motor Inn at 3414-118 Ave., closed its doors on Sunday night. A volunteer worker at the hall said that Crest Bingo was not drawing enough players to continue operating. In the past four years, four Edmonton bingos and one St. Albert bingo have closed down. A former employee of Crest believes the closings are a result of Edmonton's smoking ban.

15-Sep-06. Tsuu T’ina start work on casino. Calgary Herald, B5.

Chief Sandford Big Plume of the Tsuu T’ina First Nation held a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday for a multi-million dollar casino project on reserve lands adjacent to the City of Calgary. A job fair on the reserve attracted more than 100 band members applying for jobs at the casino, which is expected to open next summer. Infrastructure agreements with the city have yet to be finalized over access roads to the facility.

14-Sep-06. Government holding all the poker cards. Edmonton Sun, 11.

A Fort Saskatchewan company called the Desert Cactus Poker Tour is paid a fee by bar owners to run amateur poker tournaments at bars where people play for entertainment only. The owners of the operation have seen their poker tour flourish in British Columbia where individuals play for fun at a number of bars on Vancouver Island and the Okanagan region. In Alberta, the provincial gaming policy prohibits bar room casino card games.

13-Sep-06. Tsuu T’ina ready to construct casino. Calgary Herald, B1.

The Tsuu T’ina First Nation will hold a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday at their proposed casino site bordering Glenmore Trail in southwest Calgary. Construction on the Eaglestone Casino and Bingo Hall is expected to begin almost immediately. The casino will be Calgary’s seventh and will house 600 slot machines, have parking for 1,100 vehicles and employ 500 staff once fully operational.

13-Sep-06. Charity casinos may be reviled, but they work. Calgary Herald, A17.

This article suggests that it is the revenue-generating abilities of licensed charitable casino events that have made them particularly attractive to Albertan charitable organizations. With as few as 18 volunteers, each contributing four to eight hours of labour, a charity can raise in excess of $75,000. In spite of this, charities are increasingly finding it difficult volunteers to work a casino for a variety of reasons.

10-Sep-07. Casino workers picket while gamblers gamble. Edmonton Journal, A11.

About 25 strikers were stationed at the entrances to the Palace Casino and the West Edmonton Mall on the first day of a strike by casino workers. All of the casino slots and electronic games were still operating, and a limited number of gaming tables and the poker room were being run by management. Alberta Federation of Labour president Gil McGowan, who visited the picket line, said the entire labour movement is closely following the strike.

10-Sep-07. Rolling the dice. Edmonton Sun, 8.

Approximately 250 workers at Edmonton’s Palace Casino walked off the job yesterday in a bid to get a first contract. The union also wants to turn the strike into a debate over the way the province runs casinos. United Food and Commercial Workers Union president Doug O’Halloran says the Alberta government should impose a moratorium on the number of casinos in the province and reduce the cut it takes from them in order for employees to earn higher wages. The River Cree Resort and Casino is set to open at the end of October several kilometers to the west on the Enoch reserve.

9-Sep-07. Palace Casino workers vote to walk picket line. Edmonton Journal, B6.

Workers at Edmonton’s Palace Casino will be on strike at 9 a.m. today after 80 per cent voted to reject the latest contract offer from management. Union president Doug O’Halloran said the offer of a three per cent increase each year for three years was unacceptable to members. Casino employees were looking for yearly increases of five per cent, plus three days of sick pay for full-time employees.

8-Sep-06. U.S. nabs chairman of U.K. gambling site. Globe and Mail, B7.

The chairman of British online gambling company Sportingbet PLC has been detained in New York on a fugitive warrant, two months after an executive officer of Betonsports PLC was arrested in the United States on racketeering charges. Peter Dicks was arrested at Kennedy International Airport following his arrival on a flight from England. A warrant issued by the Louisiana State Police Gaming Enforcement Division charged Dicks with gambling by computer, which is punishable by up to a year in prison.

8-Sep-06. Dragon boat racing may give applicants an edge. Edmonton Journal, B3.

The Enoch Reserve’s $180-million River Cree Resort and Casino is expected to open at the end of October and has already attracted 5,000 applications from job seekers. Brian Lee, vice-president and general manager of River Cree, is a participant and supporter of local Dragon Boat racing clubs. He envisions the resort and casino as helping to create an economic, entertainment and tourism zone that benefits northern Alberta residents.

8-Sep-06. Macau casino operator eyes Japan, Thailand as Asian gaming bans relax. National Post, FP2.

Wynn Resorts Ltd., which opened a U.S. $1.2-billion casino in Macau this week, will explore expanding into Japan or Thailand if they legalize casino gambling according to company founder Stephen Wynn. Singapore ended a 40-year casino ban last year and Asian countries such as Japan are considering lifting similar prohibitions.

8-Sep-06. Casino growth plans rejected. Calgary Sun, 13.

This newsbrief reports that the Calgary planning commission has rejected plans for the relocation and expansion of the Stampede casino. The plan is slated to return before the commission by October 5.

7-Sep-06. Casino neighbours fear congestion. Edmonton Sun, 14.

The River Cree Resort and Casino is tentatively set to open at the end of October, south of Lewis Estates, on the Enoch Reserve west of Edmonton. The $180-million project, expected to generate $100-million in revenue each year, will include 600 slot machines, 40 table games, 12 poker tables and a 255-room Marriott hotel. Rob Sharman of the Lewis Estates community league is concerned about heavy traffic congestion at the intersection of Whitemud Drive and 215 Street.

7-Sep-06. Enoch Reserve thinks big with new casino. Edmonton Journal, B1.

Brian Lee, manager of the Enoch Reserve’s River Cree Resort and Casino, toured reporters and cameramen inside the $178-million complex which is scheduled to officially open in late October. The casino’s gaming room is one-third larger than Yellowhead Casino, currently Edmonton’s largest gambling venue. In the coming weeks, workers will install 600 slot machines and 40 gaming tables in the space. Gaming revenues will be split between the Enoch Cree’s not-for-profit Me’cet Society (15%), co-developer Paragon Gaming (15%), the Alberta Lottery Fund (30%), Enoch Cree Nation general revenue (30%), and Alberta’s other First Nations (10%).

6-Sep-06. Palace Casino plans to stay open if staff strike on the weekend. Edmonton Journal, E1.

The union representing workers at Edmonton’s Palace Casino has served notice that its approximately 250 members will not show for the 10 a.m. opening after contract talks with Gateway Casinos Income Fund stalled. Gateway CEO Dave Gandhia said the company will continue to try to reach a settlement before the weekend. Gandhia says that the current contract offer recognizes obligations to unitholders and the competition from two casinos opening later this year, including the $150-million River Cree resort.

6-Sep-06. Bishop, schools on the mend. Calgary Herald, A1.

Bishop Fred Henry and the Calgary Catholic School District now appear to be working together to create a policy on casino fundraising after threats of blacklisting and defiance of church edicts. He met Catholic board trustees Tuesday night to discuss how the district would address the controversial issue. Henry would not divulge what measures are being considered but he did indicate that progress was being made.

6-Sep-06. Casino strike looming. Edmonton Sun, 13.

Doug O’Halloran, United Food and Commercial Workers local 401 president, says staff at Edmonton’s Palace Casino are threatening to strike Saturday over low wages and poor benefits. He said that the more than 200 employees are struggling to make ends meet at the casino, located in the West Edmonton Mall. A news release from Gateway Casinos said that Gateway’s employees are already the highest paid casino workers in the city.

6-Sep-06. Catholics won’t show hand on gambling. Calgary Sun, 9.

The Catholic school board and Bishop Fred Henry met yesterday to discuss the controversial issue of gambling-based fundraising. While board officials declined to comment on the meeting, Henry left about an hour later seeming hopeful that their differences could be resolved.

4-Sep-06. College life can be hard on dorm dwellers’ health. Edmonton Journal, D1.

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.

1-Sep-06. Gambling battle keeps bishop away from mass. Calgary Herald, A3.

Calgary Catholic bishop Fred Henry refused to attend yesterday's annual opening mass of the Catholic school district. The bishop had previously warned schools who continue to fundraise through casinos and other forms of gambling that they risk being "blacklisted" and could lose the services of parish priests. The dispute has left the Catholic school community divided.

1-Sep-06. Bishop stands ground. Calgary Sun, 2.

Bishop Fred Henry, the leader of Calgary's Catholics, boycotted yesterday's Calgary Catholic school district mass to mark the beginning of the school year. He was following through on a vow he made after trustees allowed local Catholic schools to continue using casinos and bingos for fundraising. Henry has said in the past if the board does not comply with his wishes he could pull priests out of local schools.

1-Sep-06. The changing face of bingo. Edmonton Sun, W18.

Since the introduction of the non-smoking bylaw in July 2006, Edmonton bingo halls have experienced a number of changes. Some halls have closed, some have amalgamated with other establishments, and still others have introduced half-prince and all-you-can-play bingo to attract additional customers. Customer surveys at Fort Road Bingo in April 2006 indicated that most customers preferred full price, full payout bingo.