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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.

29-Mar-07. Suit demands free lotto tix. Edmonton Sun, 27.

A $1.1-billion class action lawsuit filed on behalf of a Toronto lottery player is seeking a free lottery ticket to compensate ticket-buyers who may have been defrauded by corrupt retailers.

28-Mar-07. Nova Scotia launches probe into Atlantic Lottery Corp. Red Deer Advocate, A6.

Nova Scotia’s government has launched a probe into ticket sales at the Atlantic Lottery Corp., aiming to determine if retailers are collecting some of their customer’s winnings. The province is concerned because of an independent study showing retailers are winning prizes at rates 10 times higher than their statistical odds.

28-Mar-07. Lottery corp. seeks to assure ticket buyers everything OK. Edmonton Journal, B5.

The Western Canada Lottery Corp. says that people who sell lottery tickets in the Prairies are not put through a screening process, but there is no evidence that they are winning more often than they should.

28-Mar-07 Lottery minister resists calls to resign. Globe and Mail, A9.

Ontario cabinet minister David Caplan resisted opposition calls to resign yesterday, insisting he was in the dark about a multi-million dollar lottery scandal until days before it made news in October, 2006.

27-Mar-07. All’s quiet on WCLC ticket front. Lethbridge Herald, A8.

The police have been asked to review the Ontario ombudsman’s report that widespread lottery fraud by lottery ticket retailers has resulted in millions of dollars falling into dishonest hands. The editorialist suggest that, with so many of Canada’s lottery organizations scrutinizing their operations to ensure public confidence, the Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC) should be doing more to show itself worthy of public trust.

27-Mar-07. Ontario knew of lottery fraud. Globe and Mail, A6.

Ontario government officials initially became aware of questions about retailers winning a disproportionate share of jackpots six months before the scandal at its lottery corporation became public last October, according to documents obtained by The Globe and Mail.

27-Mar-07. The lottery system that failed its gamblers. Globe and Mail, A22.

A 69-page report by Ontario ombudsman Andre Marin describes a Crown corporation that turned a blind eye to fraudulent behaviour and failed to protect the public interest. Mr. Marin was comprehensive in his analysis of the failings of Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp.

27-Mar-07. Rampant fraud ignored by lotto officials. Calgary Sun, 4.

In the report A Game of Trust, Ontario ombudsman Andre Marin said that the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. ignored the fact that Ontarians were defrauded of millions of dollars in prizes by crooked retailers.

27-Mar-07. Scratch and lose. National Post, A23.

This article comments on Ontario ombudsman Andre Marin’s report on the Ontario lottery scandal. It was discovered that lottery regulators have been lax in requiring retailers to undergo background checks.

27-Mar-07. Study aims to assist gamblers. Metro Calgary, 3.

University of Calgary PhD psychology student Nicole Peden is researching and testing a new approach to helping problem gamblers. The program is called Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT). She’s looking for about 50 close family members and friends of individuals with gambling problems to participate in a research investigation.

26-Mar-07. Lottery chief forced to resign, sources say. Globe and Mail, A7.

Sources say that the Ontario government forced lottery corporation head Duncan Brown to resign in an effort to diffuse the controversy swirling around the agency before next October's provincial election. His departure came just days before Ontario Ombudsman Andre Marin was to table his report into allegations that a disproportionate number of retailers won lottery jackpots.

24-Mar-07. Embattled Ontario lotto chief agrees to quit. Edmonton Journal, A7.

Duncan Brown, the embattled head of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation is out of a job in the wake of an ongoing controversy over lottery jackpots claimed by retailers. The corporation has been under scrutiny in recent months over reports that ticket sellers in the province are winning a disproportionate number of prizes. An investigative report by Ontario ombudsman Andre Marin is expected to be tabled on Monday.

24-Mar-07. Don't bet on it. Globe and Mail, F3.

Last month CBC radio reported that certain slot machines made by Konami Gaming would flash, for a fraction of a second on every spin, the same line of symbols that came up when a player won a jackpot. Professor Phil Merikle, a retired University of Waterloo professor of psychology with an expertise in cognitive neuroscience, says that there is little evidence that the brain detects such "subliminal" message. He says that casinos' cues to gamblers at a conscious or "supraliminal" level seem to work well enough -- bells, whistles, jackpot sirens, clanking coins and more.

23-Mar-07. Oka fear won't affect gambling ruling. Edmonton Sun, 28.

Alberta Solicitor General Fred Lindsay says he won't let the threat of a crisis stop him from shutting down an Alberta native band's online gambling business before it gets started. The Criminal Code of Canada forbids gambling operations not licensed by government. Alexander First Nation Chief Ray Arcand said the province has no jurisdiction over the sovereign Alexander First Nation.

23-Mar-07. Convicted thief asks judge for longer jail term. Globe and Mail, A11.

A Nova Scotia woman who is addicted to gambling on video lottery terminals has been sentenced to two years in jail for stealing from her employers. Her sentence was increased from 18-months at the woman's request because she wants to get access to rehabilitation services available at federal prisons.

22-Mar-07. Tories unlikely to halt Balzac project. Edmonton Journal, A16.

Developer Ivanhoe Cambridge and the United Horsemen of Alberta are building a racetrack, mall, hotel, veterinary college and casino in the hamlet of Balzac north of Calgary without a . The City of Calgary has refused to send its municipal water to the project and now the Municipal District of Rocky View wants to obtain water from the distant Red Deer River. Government critics are hinting at a secret deal between the Balzac mall developers and senior government officials over the water licence issue.

19-Mar-07. We need a national lottery regulator. National Post, A14.

This item is a short editorial piece has been reprinted from the StarPhoenix newspaper and relates to the regulation of gambling in Canada. The author contends that, although gaming is regulated regionally, there needs to be a nationwide regulator to ensure the system is not being abused. It is proposed that the federal government regulate lotteries in order to bring back integrity into the system.

17-Mar-07. Saskatchewan won’t boost or cut VLT machines. Edmonton Journal, A9.

The province of Saskatchewan announced Friday that it will not raise the cap on the number of video lottery terminals (VLTs) allowed. The announcement came after it released a study that suggested a strong relationship between electronic gaming machines and problem gambling. Critics argued that that this does nothing to address the issue of problem gambling.

17-Mar-07. Saskatchewan opts to keep cap on VLTs. Globe and Mail, A12.

The province of Saskatchewan announced Friday that it will not raise the cap on the number of video lottery terminals (VLTs) allowed. The announcement came after it released a study that suggested a strong relationship between electronic gaming machines and problem gambling. Currently, there are nearly 4,000 VLT machines in 318 communities across Saskatchewan.

17-Mar-07. Cap on VLTs won’t help: critics. Calgary Herald, A16.

The province of Saskatchewan announced Friday that it will not raise the cap on the number of video lottery terminals (VLTs) allowed. The announcement came after it released a study that suggested a strong relationship between electronic gaming machines and problem gambling. Critics argued that that this does nothing to address the issue of problem gambling.

17-Mar-07. Sask. Nixes bigger cap on VLTs. Lethbridge Herald, A7.

The province of Saskatchewan announced Friday that it will not raise the cap on the number of video lottery terminals (VLTs) allowed. The announcement came after it released a study that suggested a strong relationship between electronic gaming machines and problem gambling. Currently, there are nearly 4,000 VLT machines in 318 communities across Saskatchewan.

16-Mar-07. The joyless luck club. National Post, A14.

This commentary-style article discusses recent investigations that found owners of stores that sell lottery ticket are collecting a disproportionate share of prize winnings. The author suggest that blame rests not only with the government agencies that operate lotteries, but also with those who purchase lottery tickets in the first place. Buying lottery tickets is described as an invitation to be fleeced and particularly so for those who do not bother to check for winning numbers themselves.

16-Mar-07. West passes lottery review. Calgary Herald, A13.

A review of lottery winners in Western Canada has found that store owners and employees have not won more than their fair share. Western Canada Lottery Corporation, which covers Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the three territories, conducted a review of every major prize won between November 1, 2003 and October 31, 2006 and found that of 1,622 major prizes handed out, retailers won 56.

15-Mar-07. Online gambling may get reprieve. Globe and Mail, B13.

U.S. Representative Barney Frank may introduce legislation that would repeal a ban on Internet gambling. A spokesperson for Mr. Frank said the legislator is in the thinking stage of drafting a bill to reverse Congress’s decision last year to prohibit the collection of credit card payments from gambling web sites.

15-Mar-07. Lotto wins in store for owners. Calgary Sun, 20.

Lottery retailers in Atlantic Canada have been winning large prizes at rates 10 times higher than their statistical odds, according to an internal review. The review, which was verified by an independent statistics expert, found retail store owners claimed 44 prizes of $25,000 or more between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2006.

15-Mar-07. Atlantic lottery retailers’ luck triggers probe. Calgary Herald, A10.

Lottery retailers in Atlantic Canada have been winning large prizes at rates 10 times higher than their statistical odds, according to an internal review. The review, which was verified by an independent statistics expert, found retail store owners claimed 44 prizes of $25,000 or more between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2006. The Atlantic Lottery Corp. started the review last fall after The Fifth Estate’s lottery investigation made national headlines.

10-Mar-07. Mohawks deny link with Cree gambling site. Lethbridge Herald, A7.

Chuck Barnett of Mohawk Internet Technologies denies allegations by Alberta’s solicitor general that they’re advising an Alberta Cree band on how to set up an Internet gambling hub. Solicitor General Fred Lindsay told reporters earlier this week that his officials had become aware that the Mohawks were advising the Alexander First Nation, which is now offering to host Internet gambling web sites for a fee.

12-Mar-07. B.C. casinos look like a safe bet. National Post, FP7.

A report from Raymond James suggests that the gaming industry is a safe investment opportunity for investors. Revenue generated within the Canadian gaming industry has grown 9.5 per cent annually from $6.5-billion in 1995 to $14-billion in 2005. Casinos accounted for 36 per cent of gaming revenues in 2004 compared to 15 per cent in 1995. Analyst Andy Nasr expects community-based casinos will continue to grow revenues because of population growth, migration trends and an aging population.

10-Mar-07. It’s all just a game until someone loses his shirt. National Post, FW4.

Dr. Rina Gupta of the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviours at McGill University says that while 60 per cent to 80 per cent of youth in Canada gamble regularly, the incidence of gambling has not risen by any noticeable degree since the early 1990s. The immense popularity of poker among kids does concern youth organizations and professionals.

8-Mar-07. Mixed reviews for next-gen slots. Edmonton Journal, E1.

New slot machines being developed for delivery to casinos by 2009 will be linked to a central server computer that would allow operators to recognize gamblers by name, instantly adjust odds or minimum bets, and take drink orders. Slot machines generate more than three-quarters of the $55-billion in U.S. annual gambling revenue.

7-Mar-07. Alberta Cree band warned to halt plans for Internet gaming. Lethbridge Herald, A2.

Alberta Solicitor General Fred Lindsay is warning the Alexander First Nation that he has no intention of allowing the band to operate a web hosting company for gambling sites. Officials with the band have said in the past that they view themselves as a sovereign nation with the power to offer gaming licenses.

6-Mar-07. Alberta crapping out on gaming issue. Lethbridge Herald, A6.

This editorial argues that Alberta should do more to lessen the societal impact gambling and, in particular, VLT gambling. The author suggests that gambling in Alberta should be restricted to casinos.

7-Mar-07. Sure bet: There's no tax on sports gambling. National Post, FP1.

Gambling gains in Canada are not taxed as income if they are not from a commercial venture. They are considered non-taxable "windfalls" even if they are from regular and habitual activity. A recent decision of the Tax Court of Canada involved just such facts involving two high-stakes gamblers.

6-Mar-07. Alleged Mafioso ran 25 gambling shops: police. National Post, A6.

Police say an alleged Mafia underboss was running a sport bookmaking syndicate through which almost half a billion dollars flowed in a period of just 11 months. In Quebec, Internet and telephone sports gambling out of houses in Khanawke, Montreal and Laval.

3-Mar-07. Gambling's dirty little secret? Lethbridge Herald, A2.

Univeristy of Lethbridge professor Robert Williams notes that Las Vegas, Nevada is the suicide capital of the Western world for both residents and non-residents. He estimates that approximately two per cent of suicides in Alberta are attributable to problem gambling. The Chief Medical Examiner for Alberta has been tracking the links between suicide and gambling for about seven years and the findings account for case where gambling was specifically mentioned in a suicide note.

3-Mar-07. VLT addiction leads the way in region. Lethbridge Herald, A2.

The South Country Treatment Centre in Lethbridge has been helping problem gamblers for a decade. Addictions counsellors at South Country say that about 66 per cent of those admitted to the facility for problem gambling are addicted to VLTs.

3-Mar-07. Deadly gamble. Lethbridge Herald, A1.

This article profiles the suicide of a Lethbridge woman who was a problem gambler. Rebecca Schafer died hours after losing $1,000 gambling on a video lottery terminal (VLT) at a local bar she frequented. Her brother Harlan Ruud believes that her gambling addiction and other problems in her life were what caused her to commit suicide.

2-Mar-07. Watch for signs of teen gambling, new research results advise. Red Deer Advocate, A2.

New research suggests that the risk of becoming a problem gambler is more than five times higher for teens whose parents aren't aware of their gambling activities. The research by the Responsible Gambling Council stems from a previously released study about the gambling habits of Ontario teenagers aged 15 to 17.

3-Mar-07. Rick Bell PageFive. Calgary Sun, 5.

This article notes that the Calgary Catholic schools are still raising funds from charitable gambling events despite being the subject of a school board task force. A deal last September between Calgary Bishop Fred Henry and the school board agreed that a Get Out of Gambling date would be set in early 2007.

3-Mar-07. Gambling debate in limbo. Edmonton Sun, 19.

A decision on whether Catholic schools in Edmonton should get funding from the proceeds of gambling has been in limbo since Edmonton Archbishop Tom Collins was reassigned to another diocese. In the meantime, the school board is continuing its fundraising business as usual. St. Paul Bishop Luc Bouchard is giving Catholic organizations in his diocese up to three years to stop going after gambling revenues.

2-Mar-07. Bingos plan butt-law fight. Calgary Sun, 5.

Calgary bingo hall operators are concerned that their businesses will not be viable when a one-year city smoking ban exemption is lifted in 2008. They plan to lobby city aldermen to find a compromise. Dennis Kronberger, general manager of the Bingo Palace, said Edmonton’s smoking ban forced eight of the city’s bingos to fold and he fears the same plight would face Calgary as 70 per cent of bingo clientele smoke.

1-Mar-07. Alberta gambling: A dubious bet? Edmonton Journal, A18.

This opinion-style article discusses the fact that legal sports books in Nevada provide significantly more generous betting odds than Canada’s provincially-sponsored Sports Select lottery. The author also asks the question of whether Albertans are making informed decisions about gambling. It is opined that there has been little effort to educate the general public about the social ills that can accompany gambling, and on the risks of becoming a problem gambler.

1-Mar-07. Foundation recommended to offset loss of casino funds for Catholic schools. Calgary Herald, B1.

The Calgary Catholic School District is looking at establishing a foundation to help schools give up gambling as a way of raising money. A report from the task force on alternative methods of school-based fundraising urged that a district-wide foundation be established to assist schools in lower socio-economic areas to pay for school field trips, equipment and supplies. The task force estimates that by June 2009, 61 per cent of schools currently involved in casinos and bingos will no longer be participating in gambling fundraisers.

1-Mar-07. St. Albert casino bets on bigger. Edmonton Journal, F3.

This article reports that Gold Dust casino in St. Albert is seeking to expand its gaming operation from 12 table games, 240 slot machines, and 10 VLTs. Gold Dust is one of the few casinos in the province without a poker room and this might also be part of a new expansion. Casino sales and marketing director Rob LeLacheur says that the recent openings of River Cree Casino west of Edmonton and Celebrations Casino on Fort Road have not hurt Gold Dust.

28-Feb-07. Group bets on Vietnam casino resort. Globe and Mail, B15.

Asian Coast Development Ltd. of Toronto, with partners Fontainebleue Resorts and Paul Steelman, a Las Vegas-based casino architect, are proposing a $4-billion (U.S.) resort and casino in Vietnam. There are currently only a handful of small casinos in northern Vietnam and gambling is still a nascent industry.

22-Feb-07. Gamehost reports record profits. Red Deer Advocate, B3.

Red Deer-based Gamehost Income Fund has reported record revenues of $49.3-million for 2006. This is up $18.2-million from the previous year and $24.1-million from 2004. Gamehost owns and operates casinos in Fort McMurray and Grande Prairie and is a 40 per cent joint venture partner in the Deerfoot Inn and Casino in Calgary.

21-Feb-07. Gambling his life away. Edmonton Journal, C1.

This article profiles the negative impacts of one man’s involvement with sports gambling. There are an estimated 1.2-million problem gamblers in Canada and gamblers are losing four times as much money gambling as they were ten years ago.

23-Feb-07. Want fair lotteries? Let bookies run them. Globe and Mail, B2.

This article notes that North American lotteries are moving toward continental consolidation and that U.S. states Illinois and Indiana are preparing to sell their state lotteries to the highest bidders. The author questions these types of transactions because private monopolies are illegal and it is questionable whether governments can transfer monopoly authorty to private corporations. University of Chicago professor Randal Picker, an authority on antitrust laws, regards this strategy as offensive and also views the low payout rates of public lotteries as a form of hidden taxation.

21-Feb-07. Betting on ponies no longer enough for horse-racing industry. Edmonton Journal, C5.

Wagering and attendance at horse racing events in Alberta has plummeted over the past twenty five years. Some of Canada’s horse racing industry representatives are not seeking to put sports books into their racetracks, thereby opening the way for bettors to gamble not only on the horses, but on football, hockey, basketball or other events at the same time. Edmonton Northlands racing and gaming general manager Les Butler says there would first have to be a change to the Criminal Code of Canada in order to allow wagering on single events.

21-Feb-07. Internet wagering may be key to sports gambling’s future. Edmonton Journal, C1.

This article gathers opinions from gambling researchers, industry insiders and government officials on the future directions of online sports gambling. Michael Lipton, a Montreal lawyer and member of the International Masters of Gaming Law says that Internet gambling has reached the point where it should be regulated. Robert Williams, a research coordinator for the Alberta Gaming Research Institute, predicts interactive gambling and peer-to-peer betting exchanges will soon be the newest Internet craze.

20-Feb-07. Click of mouse and you can lose your house. Edmonton Journal, C9.

This article reports that the unfettered accessibility of gambling over the Internet is a potentially huge problem. In an ongoing study of online gambling, University of Lethbridge professors Robert Williams and Robert Wood have found that those who gamble on the Internet are 10 times more likely to be problem gamblers than those who use other forms of gambling. In addition, half of the Internet gamblers in their study are age 21 or younger.

19-Feb-07. Get in the ‘unfair’ game. Edmonton Journal, C7.

In this article, the government-sanctioned Sport Select lottery is reported to offer drastically poorer odds for gamblers in comparison to similar wagers made at Las Vegas sports books. The government’s parlay wagers are also considerably lower than what legal and illegal bookmakers pay. The government response to such criticism is that Sports Select is meant for entertainment and not for serious gamblers.

19-Feb-07. Gambling money the lifeblood of sports groups. Edmonton Journal, C6.

Basketball Alberta and hundreds of other not-for-profit amateur sports groups all rely on the province for a significant portion of their funding. Former University of Alberta athletic director Ian Reade recently researched gambling’s dollar trail into amateur sports and found that virtually all government money given to these organizations comes from gambling revenues. Garry Smith, a gambling research specialist at the University of Alberta, suggest that a morally troublesome statistic for such sports groups is that 40 per cent of the province’s gambling revenue from slot machines comes from the five per cent of the population classified as problem gamblers. He also says that Alberta’s charitable model of gambling is a misnomer as only about 20 per cent of the money from the Alberta Lottery Fund goes to groups that might be considered non-profit, community-based and charitable.

19-Feb-07. Government addicted to gambling profits. Edmonton Journal, C6.

Seventeen years after Alberta and other provincial governments began offering sports betting with the creation of the Sports Select lottery, these same governments now appear to be addicted to the huge profits generated from this activity. Garry Smith, a professor with the Alberta Gaming Research Institute at the University of Alberta, says governments tend to overemphasize the economic benefits and downplay the social problems gambling creates because they are so dependent on gambling revenues. In Alberta, sports and non-sports lottery profits are directed to the Alberta Lottery Fund, and from their given to worthy volunteer, non-profit, public and community-based projects throughout the province. Smith believes that governments should remove themselves from direct involvement with gambling so that they are better able to make impartial, objective decisions about gambling.

18-Feb-07. An offer athletes simply can’t refuse. Edmonton Journal, C1.

Michael Franzese, a former captain in New York’s Colombo crime family explains how he and his associates fixed sporting events by demanding athletes with gambling debts ensure that their teams won by only a certain number of points. Franzese spent seven years in prison for racketeering but has now turned his life around and talks to athletes about the perils of gambling. Match-fixing is reportedly still going on at the U.S. college level and there have also been a number of recent high-profile scandals in professional Italian and Brazilian soccer leagues.

17-Feb-07. The secret lives of illegal bookies. Edmonton Journal, D1.

The bookie’s act of taking wagers from individuals and charging a commission is against the law but that hasn’t stopped bookies from plying their trade in Edmonton and elsewhere. The Journal managed to find four Edmonton bookmakers over the past several months that were willing to talk about their activities. According to the four, the bookmaking community in Edmonton has transformed considerably in the past decade and there are now far more bookmakers than there used to be but their clients are betting less.

17-Feb-07. Gaming now part of the game. Edmonton Journal, A3.

The relationship between sports owners, athletes and leagues and the gambling industry has never been closer. Examples cited in this article include individual professional athletes who have admitted gambling involvement, online gambling advertising at games, media coverage of betting lines, and directed lottery support for several Canadian professional sports franchises.

17-Feb-07. Dirty little secret no more. Edmonton Journal, A1.

This item introduces a five-part series of articles to appear in The Journal called Games of Chance: Inside Sports Gambling that will examine many of the nuances of sports gambling. It is noted that there has been a shift from an era when sports distanced themselves from gamblers to today’s cozy relationship between the two. The integrity of professional games is now at risk because of this association, as is the integrity of the coaches and athletes who play the games and those who bet on them.

9-Feb-07. Gaming commission investigating native band over Internet gambling. Red Deer Advocate, B9.

Alberta Solicitor General Fred Lindsay said in an interview that the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission is investigating the Alexander First Nation after the band recently announced its intention to offer online gaming licences. Lindsay said Internet gaming is illegal in Alberta and he will ensure that it does not happen. Cheryl Gibson, an official with the band's newly formed Internet technology firm, says a large data centre is in the final stages of construction.

8-Feb-07. Alberta to roll Internet dice? Red Deer Advocate, A4.

This editorial discusses an opinion poll being conducted by the Alberta government to find out how the province's residents feel about legalized Alberta-based online gambling web sites. Government opposition critics are concerned that any such opportunities to gambling online would likely result in more individuals with gambling problems. The remainder of the article highlights recent gambling initiatives in Alberta and notes that the sector is troubled.

11-Feb-07. Online gambling still in grey area. Edmonton Journal, A18.

This editorial relates to the announcement that Alexander First Nation will host offshore casino firms who want to set up computer servers and offer online gambling to individuals living outside of Canada. It is noted that the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission has said the operations are illegal and should be stopped. The author poses questions about whether a service that serves gamblers outside the country should be illegal. Also, if the government itself eventually offers online gambling, it might be difficult to justify a decision to close down the centre on the Alexander reserve.

11-Feb-07. Striking casino workers reject contract offer. Edmonton Journal, A15.

Striking workers at Edmonton’s Palace Casino have rejected an offer from owner Gateway Casinos Ltd. by a final vote of 99 against and 73 in favour. The strike at the West Edmonton Mall casino has lasted five months.

10-Feb-07. Band’s online gambling bid has outside chance, experts say. Edmonton Journal, A2.

The Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission is investigating the Emdonton-area Alexander First Nation which is offering licences for online poker, casino or sports-betting houses but has not yet started operations. The provincial regulator deems that any gaming schemes taking place outside its regulations is against the Criminal Code. Gaming industry lawyer Michael Lipton says it might be possible for the band to get legal approval to host offshore Internet gambling firms if it can prove that wagering was a major part of their ancestral heritage.

10-Feb-07. Good odds on addiction. Edmonton Sun, 12.

This article discusses the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission’s poll to see if Albertans want to see legal Internet gambling as well as the announcement by the Alexander First Nation that they intend to offer licences to online gambling firms. Comments about the possible risks of online gambling by a number of researchers consultants to provide additional background on this gambling format.

9-Feb-07. Stampede hits the jackpot with new super casino. Calgary Herald, E2.

This article describes plans for the proposed Stampede Casino at the Stampede Exhibition grounds which will be the largest in Calgary once complete. The size of the building will be 95,000-square-feet and will include a large dedicated poker room as well as table games and slot machines. The entire building has been designed with a contemporary western theme.

9-Feb-07. Wild West for online gamblers. Edmonton Journal, A9.

Robert Williams, a health sciences professor at the University of Lethbridge and research coordinator for the Alberta Gaming Research Institute, says research suggests that two per cent of Canadians participate in online gambling. Provincial gaming regulators in British Columbia and Atlantic Canada already offer lotteries, keno, and sports betting opportunities which are resticted to residents of those provinces. Online gambling is considered more addictive than conventional gambling because of the speed of play and the fact that players are isolated.

8-Feb-07. Band forges ahead with online casino plan. Edmonton Journal, A3.

Alexander First Nation, near Morinville, announced last October that its own gambling commission will regulate and offer licences to Internet gambling operators. In preparation to accommodate online gambling operations, Alexander is building a 2,300-square-metre data centre on its territory which will host computer servers for gambling web sites. Alexander appears to be following a successful model developed and operated by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission which is located on Mohawk Territory in Quebec. University of Alberta gambling research specialist Garry Smith points out that legal opinion is that the Kahnawake initiative is likely a violation of the Criminal Code but there are some lawyers with differing opinions on the matter.

8-Feb-07. Province not all in with Internet-gambling survey. Calgary Sun, 4.

Bishop Fred Henry of Calgary and fellow social activists are outraged over media reports that the province is surveying opinions about Internet gambling. Alberta Gaming Commission spokesperson Marilyn Carlyle-Helms says the province is not moving forward on Internet gambling right now and that the telephone and online survey of 800 Albertans hopes to find out if they gambling online and what games they play.

7-Feb-07. Alberta looking to get in on action. Calgary Sun, 7.

Global TV reports that the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission is considering creating web sites for people to play poker, blackjack, or bet on sports online. The commission has ordered two polls to guage how Albertans feel about the idea. A spokesperson for the commission says they’re in the early stages of player research.

7-Feb-07. Province polls gamblers. Edmonton Sun, 5.

Marilyn Carlyle-Helms, a spokesperson for the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission, yesterday said the organization has commissioned a poll to determine Albertans’ feelings about online gambling. Carlyle-Helms said that if the province were to allow Internet gambling sites to be based out of Alberta – with the government taking a cut of the revenues - it wouldn’t happen for a long time. In November, it was projected Alberta would take in $1.4-billion from gambling in the province this fiscal year.

7-Feb-07. Alberta gov’t mulls leap into online gambling. Edmonton Journal, A6.

Global TV reports that the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission is considering creating web sites for people to play poker, blackjack, or bet on sports online. The commission has ordered two polls to guage how Albertans feel about the idea. A spokesperson for the commission says they’re in the early stages of player research.

4-Feb-07. FBI tackles Super Bowl online betting. Edmonton Journal, A2.

This article reports on the U.S. crackdown on Internet gambling and describes a series of related events that have taken place since the 2000 wire-fraud conviction of sports betting entrepreneur Jay Cohen for operating a web site in Antigua. Justice Department officials have long been on record as saying that Internet gambling breaks the law but only recently have executives and businesses faced criminal charges. Legal experts say there are questions about whether Internet gaming is a crime worthy of extradition in most foreign jurisdictions.

3-Feb-07. Free the ponies. Edmonton Journal, A18.

This editorial discusses the $60-million in subsidies that is received annually by Horse Racing Alberta from the provincial government. Since 2002, about $200-million has gone from the treasury to subsidize an industry that is largely based on gambling. This program has recently attracted the attention of Alberta Liberal MLA Maurice Tougas who has said the funds would be more appropriately spent on schools or health care services. The editorialist recommends that Premier Ed Stelmach should begin to wean Horse Racing Alberta away from government largesse.

31-Jan-07. Sounds like an addiction but not a harmful one. Calgary Sun, 59.

This article discusses the vast amounts of time some people spend participating in fantasy sports leagues. UNLV professor Dr. Bo Bernhard did a study on fantasy sports last year and found only a few instances of the phenomenon taking over someone’s life. The inability to properly monitor fantasy players also makes it difficult to determine whether or not fantasy sports leads to more serious forms of gambling, like wagering on games.

31-Jan-07. Sounds like an addiction but not a harmful one. Edmonton Sun, S13.

This article discusses the vast amounts of time some people spend participating in fantasy sports leagues. UNLV professor Dr. Bo Bernhard did a study on fantasy sports last year and found only a few instances of the phenomenon taking over someone’s life. The inability to properly monitor fantasy players also makes it difficult to determine whether or not fantasy sports leads to more serious forms of gambling, like wagering on games.

29-Jan-07. It’s fun… to win! Calgary Sun, B6.

This article notes that there have been few research studies related to fantasy sports in comparison to other forms of gambling. A recent study by Dr. Bo Bernhard, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Nevada – Las Vegas reported that there can be some positive social networking aspects associated with the activity. Garry Smith, a gambling research specialist at the Alberta Gaming Research Institute, notes that the skill element of sports betting seems to mean that people are less likely to become addicted to that form of gambling.

27-Jan-07. $10 says the kids are alright. National Post, A20.

This editorial comments on the results of youth survey released by the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) of Ontario which questioned 2,140 teens on the role that gambling plays in their lives. Despite profound technological and social changes pertaining to gambling, the results of the survey indicate that the gambling habits of teenagers are little changed from years past. The editorialist warns that continued efforts should be made to equip students with the ability to properly understanding the true chances of winning in a casino setting.

25-Jan-07. Gambling starts early, study finds. Lethbridge Herald, A7.

A study released Thursday by the Responsible Gambling Council reports that more than one-third of Ontario teens aged 15 to 17 gambles. Of the 2,140 teens surveyed, 40 per cent of those who gamble said poker is their preferred game.

25-Jan-07. ‘Net no threat to lotto tickets. Edmonton Journal, F3.

John Pollard, the co-CEO of Pollard Banknote Income Fund says the Internet and other technologies show no sign of undermining the scratch-and-win lottery business as each attracts different clientele. Growth in North American instant-ticket lotteries was about nine per cent last year and has consistently averaged eight per cent or more annually for the past decade.

24-Jan-07. Betting the farm on the lottery. National Post, FP7.

The state of Illinois this week took the first steps in selling its state lottery system, hoping to attract as much as $10-billion from investors. Under the proposed sale, Illinois would receive a multi-billion dollar one-time payment, and the new owners of the lottery would receive all revenue and profit for 76 years. The lottery collected revenue of about US $2-billion and profits of around US $630-million last year.

23-Jan-07. U.S. probe hits shares in online gambling firms. Globe and Mail, B11.

The U.S. Department of Justice has sent subpoenas to about 15 investment banks across Europe and the United States, requesting information as part of a probe into gambling companies including Britain’s PartyGaming PLC and payment networks such as Neteller PLC. The United States effectively banned online gambling last fall when Congress added a provision to a bill aimed at improving port security to make it illegal for banks and credit card companies to settle payments to online gambling sites.

22-Jan-07. A double standard wins race. Lethbridge Herald, A6.

In this editorial, the author discusses the $190-million of financial support provided by the provincial government to Alberta’s horse racing industry. As the Alberta Liberals noted this week, there does not appear to be any evidence that Alberta’s Racing Renewal Strategy is actually renewing the racing industry. The editorialist questions why the Conservative government, a staunch advocate of an open market and competitive forces, has not allowed horse racing to compete on its own for the entertainment and gaming dollars of Albeta.

19-Jan-07. Let’s axe horse racing subsidies. Red Deer Advocate, A4.

This editorial is critical of the $190-million in taxpayer subsidies that have been given by the provincial government to Horse Racing Alberta since 2002. It is noted that past Alberta premiers Ralph Klein and Don Getty were both prominent players in decisions made to support horse racing. Liberal MLA Maurice Tougas is now calling on the Convervative government to end the racing subsidy. The author contends that the racing industry is being subsidized for all the wrong reasons and that it was the Conservatives under Klein who vowed to get out of the business of subsidizing businesses.

19-Jan-07. VLTs labeled unfair. Edmonton Sun, 9.

The Gambling Watch Network has filed a federal complaint with the Competition Bureau alleging electronic gaming machines (EGMs) aren’t regulated to ensure fairness. The citizens’ group membership includes an EGM software expert, a former lawyer for EGM manufacturers and a mother whose son killed himself over gambling debts. The group alleges EGMs do not meet Canadian standards of consumer fairness, fraud or protection. They say on-screen displays convince gamblers they’ll win more than the machine is designed to pay out, which breaches parts of the Criminal Code and Competition Act.

19-Jan-07. Horsemen’s wages blasted. Edmonton Sun, 5.

On the second day of a campaign urging the Alberta government to stop funding the horseracing industry, Liberal MLA Maurice Tougas attacked the $200,000 salaries of the agency’s chairman and the president. The province entered into a 10-year deal with the industry in 2005 that provides it with 51% of the proceeds of race track slot machine revenue. Horse Race Alberta chairman Dr. David Reid contends the province created a model agreement that is the envy of Canada to save the horse-racing industry from the expansion of casino and video lottery terminal (VLT) gambling.

19-Jan-07. Online gamblers crap out in U.S. Calgary Herald, D2.

This editorial-style article discusses the arrest of two Canadians for their involvement with British company NETeller PLC. NETeller charged fees which then allowed U.S. gamblers to transfer their betting money to offshore online gaming companies around the world. The author suggests that the U.S. government is most interested in protecting the tax revenues that it makes from land-based gambling facilities under its own jurisdiction.

19-Jan-07. Their gambling divide. Globe and Mail, A12.

This editorial says that two Canadian businessmen recently arrested as part of a U.S. crackdown on Internet gambling have broken no laws in either Canada or Britain, where the company there were involved with is based. The impetus for the arrests was legislation passed in October that made online gambling a crime in the United States. The editorialist says that permitting and encouraging gambling when it takes place at a physical venue in the United States but outlawing on the Internet is absurd.

19-Jan-07. Neteller to close Internet gambling services in U.S. Globe and Mail, B8.

Britain’s Neteller PLC closed its U.S. Internet gambling services yesterday. Neteller said it will stop handling gambling transactions from U.S. customers because of restrictive legislation and uncertainties about regulations.

18-Jan-07. Liberals want horse racing subsidy phased out. Lethbridge Herald, A5.

Maurice Tougas, the Alberta Liberal gaming critic, is called on Premier Ed Stelmach to phase out the subsidy given to Horse Racing Alberta (HRA). HRA has received more than $136-million in slot machine revenue since 2002 to revive the industry which was facing stiff competition from casinos and VLTs. Max Gibb, CEO of the Rocky Mountain Turf Club said the deal was necessary to revive live horse racing and continues to be needed in order to continue live horse racing in Lethbridge. Tougas point out that pubic attendance at horse racing events at Whoop-Up Downs in Lethbridge in 2005 was 63,860, down from 66,363 the year before.

18-Jan-07. Local non-profit groups receive funding. Lethbridge Herald, A5.

The non-profit John Howard Society of Lethbridge has received $50,000 from the provincial government via the Wild Rose Foundation. Funding will be used toward program costs for Life Without Gambling over one year to deliver a six-part community-based program to reduce the individual and social problems stemming from problem gambling.

18-Jan-07. Men caught in U.S. push to crush online gaming. Calgary Herald, A1.

University of Calgary alumni John Lefebvre and a business partner Stephen Lawrence, are accused of funneling billions of dollars in illegal Internet gambling proceeds to overseas betting operations from July 2000 until December 2006 through their online payment company NETeller PLC. Michael Lipton, a Toronto lawyer who specializes in gaming law, predicts the Canadians are in for a fight and are being used as examples by American authorities eager to stamp out online gambling in their country. According to the company’s 2005 annual report, payment services were provided to more than 95 per cent of gaming merchants around the globe, amounting to roughly $7.3-billion in financial transactions.

18-Jan-07. Stelmach urged to rein in horse racing funding. Calgary Herald, A4.

Alberta Liberal MLA Maurice Tougas believes it is time for the new government to come up with a plan to lessen funding to Horse Racing Alberta. Tougas said the government has provided $136-million in slot machine revenue into the industry over the past four years, will added another $60-million this year, and has extended the deal for another decade. Horse Racing Alberta chairman Dr. David Reid said the deal Alberta reached with the not-for-profit industry is seen as a model in North America for preventing horse racing from being negatively impacted by casino and VLT gambling.

18-Jan-07. Grits want Tories to stop horsing around. Edmonton Sun, 12.

Alberta Liberal MLA Maurice Tougas believes it is time for the new government to come up with a plan to lessen funding to Horse Racing Alberta. Tougas said the government has provided $136-million in slot machine revenue into the industry over the past four years, will added another $60-million this year, and has extended the deal for another decade. Horse Racing Alberta chairman Dr. David Reid said the deal Alberta reached with the not-for-profit industry is seen as a model in North America for preventing horse racing from being negatively impacted by casino and VLT gambling.

17-Jan-07. Uncle Sam nabs Net millionaires. Globe and Mail, B1.

John Lefebvre and Stephen Lawrence were charged yesterday with laundering billions of dollars worth of gambling proceeds through Neteller PLC, an Internet payment company they founded in 1999. Neteller enables people to transfer money from their bank accounts to merchants around the world and has proven popular with online gamblers. In complaints filed yesterday in a New York court, U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia alleged the Canadian businessmen knew that Neteller’s activities were illegal in the United States when they took their company public in 2004.

17-Jan-07. Critics fume over shelters for smokers at casinos. Globe and Mail, A10.

Ontario Health Promotion Minister Jim Watson said yesterday that government-owned casinos in Windsor and Niagara Falls are allowed to build outdoor shelters for smokers even though bars and restaurants cannot do so under a provincewide smoking ban. Casinos are not covered because their main business is not serving food or alcohol. Conservative finance critic Tim Hudak said the government is protecting its casino revenues at the expense of others in the hospitality sector.

17-Jan-07. Serve up a VLT reality check: Post the odds. Lethbridge Herald, A6.

This editorial discusses a complaint headed to the federal Competition Bureau by six individuals who say that video lottery terminals (VLTs) violate the Competition Act by engaging in deceptive marketing. One Halifax complainant says software in the machines creates near-misses that impel the gambler to keep playing. The author suggests that it would be helpful for VLT players to be better informed of the odds of winning and to post them on every machine and on the back of lottery tickets.

10-Jan-07. Medicine Hat passes smoking ban. Red Deer Advocate, A3.

The City of Medicine Hat, Alberta is going one hundred per cent smoke-free on May 31, 2007. A bylaw approved Monday night prohibits smoking in any public place, including bars and pubs, bingo halls and casinos, public vehicles, patios and home businesses. Opponents of the ban warned that it will hurt businesses and charities that rely on proceeds from bingos and casinos.

12-Jan-07. Gambling study need volunteers. Calgary Herald, B6.

A new study by University of Calgary PhD student Nicole Peden called Gambling Grief: Helping Gamblers’ Loved Ones is recruiting friends and family members who are hurt by the habit of problem gamblers. All participants must be close family members or friends of individuals with gambling problems and must be 18 or older. For their efforts, each participant will receive a $50 gift certificate from Safeway after the last phone interview.

10-Jan-07. Student bets therapy for loved ones works. Calgary Sun, 12.

University of Calgary Ph.D. student Nicole Peden hopes that a study she is conducting will decrease the distress experienced by loved ones of those who gamble and make treatment more appealing to problem gamblers. She says that evidence from the study indicates that the intervention has proven to be quite effective. It is even better than only self-help manual used in studies because those that have used a manual alone said they needed more guidance.

9-Jan-07. Bars defy smoke ban as complaints grow. Calgary Herald, A1.

On Wednesday, a group of Calgary bar owners who have VLTs on their premises are expected to ask for an injunction on the city’s smoking ban until their case is heard February 8th. They feel discriminated against because bingo halls and casinos are allowed smoking for an additional year.

7-Jan-07. Butting out blow to bingo revenue. Lethbridge Herald, A3.

After six days of the new anti-smoking bylaw, managers of two Lethbridge bingo halls fear that the resultant loss of revenues for the 72 community clubs they support will be substantial. Keith Preddy, president of the Southern Alberta Bingo Association, estimates that the bylaw has diminished revenues by $1,000 per day.

3-Jan-07. Thousands from Vegas of the north go big for the real deal. Edmonton Journal, A1.

Though Edmonton’s seven casinos are more than any other city in Canada, Las Vegas is Edmonton International Airport’s busiest destination and fastest-growing international route. In 2006, 60,000 people flew from Edmonton to Las Vegas, a 60-per-cent increase from 2005. A spokesperson for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Bureau said Edmontonians are coming primarily to experience the city’s entertainment options.

29-Dec-06. Banking on winning a jackpot? Yikes. Lethbridge Herald, A10.

The author of this editorial notes that, while gaming was once a moral grey area, today it’s just another pastime for Canadians. This turnaround occurred in only one generation. The author suggests that there will inevitably be problem gambling casualties as a result of the increased popularity of gambling. It is opined that there ought to be an informed societal discussion regarding the desirability of increasing the role that gambling plays in people’s lives.

30-Dec-06. Investigation of store owners delays $1M Ont. lottery prize for 6 weeks. Edmonton Journal, B10.

An Ontario couple from Fenelon Falls who co-own a store from which their winning lottery ticket was purchased had to wait for six weeks to claim their prize. A recent investigation by the CBC’s The Fifth Estate found lottery retailers were winning prizes at a statistically impossible rate and it prompted an investigation by Ontario’s ombudsman.

29-Dec-06. Racing fraternity honours Klein’s support. Edmonton Journal, B5.

Early next year, Standardbred Canada will honour fomer Alberta premier Ralph Klein with an award. Standardbred Canada, which promotes harness racing, credited Klein with revitalizing a sector that breeders and operators argued had been struggling for gambling dollars against video lottery terminals (VLTs) and casinos. In 2002, the Klein government reached a deal to give the industry a portion of profits from slot machines installed at race tracks. It gave horse racing a $33-million take that year, a number that has nearly doubled over five years.

26-Dec-06. Service clubs could be burned by new rules. Lethbridge Herald, A3.

Keith Preddy, president of the Southern Alberta Bingo Association, expects that once the new Lethbridge smoking bylaw takes effect January 1st, business at the association’s bingo hall will be dead. He says 85 to 90 per cent of the bingo players who go to Lucky’s are smokers. Preddy says that a reduction in revenues for the association will reduce funds available to community service clubs.

28-Dec-06. Gambling duo prove there’s no tax on luck. Globe and Mail, A1.

In the 1990’s, Brian and Terry Leblanc of Aylmer, Quebec managed a full-time betting operation which included wagering up to $300,000 a week on games such as the Pro-Line sports lottery. Their strategy involved betting huge amounts on events with incredibly long events and they often won big. In 2000, the Canada Revenue Agency took notice and sent them a notice of re-assessment for the years 1996 to 1999, saying their gambling was a business and subject to tax. The case ended up at the Tax Court of Canada and, last week, Mr. Justice Donald Bowman ruled in favour of the Leblancs.

26-Dec-06. So you think you could run a pro team? Globe and Mail, B5.

Big Bucks Footy is an online fantasy soccer game that allows players to manage their teams to compete for real prize money. Tim Lloyd, vice-president of BigBucks Games Interactive Inc., which has developed the game, says that it does not involve gambling and is 100-per-cent skills-based. A test version of the game is scheduled to go live on January 2nd. An increasing number of similar online skill games are being developed where players compete for cash prizes but few are profitable.

21-Dec-06. NHL opens door to Pens’ move. Globe and Mail, S1.

The National Hockey League has raised the possibility of moving the Pittsburg Penguins professional ice hockey team to another city after a state agency thwarted their plans to build a new arena. Yesterday, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board chose not to award a slot-machine operating licence to a company backed by owners of the team. The company, Isle of Capri, had pledged $290-million (U.S.) toward construction of a new arena if it won the licence.

21-Dec-06. Bars bet on butt loophole. Calgary Sun, 5.

A city council bylaw will prohibit smoking in Calgary’s public places in ten days except in smoking rooms, at places holding bingos and where the primary activity is the conduct of licensed gaming. The article author says some city bars may attempt to get around the bylaw by stating that they are primarily gaming establishments since they make most of their revenues from video lottery terminal (VLT) machines.

20-Dec-06. Penguins await key roll of the dice. Globe and Mail, B8.

Gambling regulators in Pennsylvania will today award 11 casino licences across the state, two years after legislators authorized slot machines in casinos. In Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Penguins professional ice hockey team and the Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc. are proposing a joint venture. Isle of Capri is offering to build a $1-billion (U.S.) casino complex, including a $290 million ice hockey arena.

20-Dec-06. Penguins await key roll of the dice. Globe and Mail, B8.

Gambling regulators in Pennsylvania will today award 11 casino licences across the state, two years after legislators authorized slot machines in casinos. In Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Penguins professional ice hockey team and the Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc. are proposing a joint venture. Isle of Capri is offering to build a $1-billion (U.S.) casino complex, including a $290 million ice hockey arena.