15 Comments
User's avatar
KayDee's avatar

If the Wicked Witch of the West could figure out a way to monetize "inappropriate material" she would.

Jennifer Diakiw's avatar

Once again, the UCP government calculates gross revenues, without considering the social harms and the very real costs needed to address the harms. Have a look at https://banadsforgambling.ca

Bill Fowler's avatar

Several years ago I was at a convention in Halifax. In order to get to my meeting I had to pass through a casino. Hotel/convention centre/casino combo.

I was struck dumb by the overwhelming numbers of young men playing poker late morning and early afternoon. Why aren’t they working ?

Like you I’m offended by and concerned about the overwhelming push of gambling ads being thrust upon us.

Now Dani the Denier says they’ll put some of their ill gotten wealth from gambling to gambling addiction.

Wrong end of the stick, wrong time.

By the time someone calls out for help the family has likely already been impoverished.

How much better to be at the front end- you know Dani like vaccines, prevent the illness.

Raising my kids through minor sports you worked at casinos. Minor sports got a cut of the gate if you will calculated on some portion of the year.

I objected to that and wouldn’t work them. Just another form of indoctrination.

The priorities of this government are so misplaced that it’s hard to find that single point of entry to rip it all apart.

darby's avatar

We have all those betting ads in Ontario as well. But I'm happy to say that my daughter's job involves talking to young people 12 and older about the dangers of youth gambling and how it can get started with simple things you wouldn't think of as gambling such as buying an unknown bonus package in a video game and hoping it provides something useful.

Deirdre Mitchell-MacLean's avatar

You had them before us. I do wonder what stats you had about gambling addiction before your govt let them in.

darby's avatar

That is an interesting query. I don't know the answer but I'd like to. I'm really tired of the ads.

Hazel Love McLaughlin's avatar

Such hipocracy ! It's not harmful to children as long as it makes money. The UPC are so pathetic !!!

Deirdre Mitchell-MacLean's avatar

So on brand for this government to pull the knife out of your back and stick it in the front.

Jacqueline Brinsmead's avatar

I believe that the gambling ads should not be allowed. We do not allow advertising which overtly promote alcohol, a potentially addictive product, do why do we allow advertising of gambling, an addictive activity?

Furthermore, I believe that the long term social, financial, and mental health consequences of online gambling will far outweigh any revenues accrued in government coffers from the gambling. It should not be allowed in Canada.

Michael Pflueger's avatar

The structure also has a built-in incentive for NGOs not to complain about it, since they are all dependent on casino money for funding. I bet that's a bitter conversation every time the topic of funding comes up at PGRN meetings. I wouldn't fault their decision either way.

Laurent Dubois's avatar

Is Alberta gambling contracted out to Yanks? Albertans ain't smart enough?

Deirdre Mitchell-MacLean's avatar

We already had Play Alberta but apparently the UCP decided we need more and opened up Alberta to MGM and something called "Betty", and possibly others; those are just the two that popped up when I searched for a photo.