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.