Gambling is to play a game of chance for stakes. Whether you bet on horse racing, play slot machines, or buy lottery tickets, it is a game of luck where great risk holds promise of greater reward. Canada has had a long evolution of gambling, which today has a great effect on our society. From law, to government, to family and addiction problems, what may seem like fun and games actually has a large impact on all of us.
Although gambling is extremely profitable for a lucky few, for most Canadians it averages out to about $515 lost per year. In 1892, gambling was strictly banned in Canada, and it was not until the late sixties that the law was amended to allow for provincial lotteries and sweepstakes. Small steps along the way, including horse racing, charitable events, and gambling at fairs and exhibitions slowly but surely proved that the government could profit substantially from this type of gaming. In order to maximize income without increasing taxes, the first national lottery was held to raise money for the 1974 Montreal Olympics. This concept was so successful that the trend continued. By 1980, the first ever cash casino opened in Calgary, and in 1989, the first commercial casino opening marked the beginning of the casino era. In the nineties, Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs) popped up all across the country in both licensed and non-licensed venues, and became an enormous source of income for the Canadian Government. There were 59 permanent casinos by 2001, in addition to tens of thousands VLTs, lottery ticket vendors, and bingo halls. According to Statistics Canada 2011, the Canadian Government now makes a whopping 3% of its total revenue from Canadian gamblers.
Although there are benefits for the revenue of Canada, there are many concerns for those 1.2 million Canadians who are considered to be at risk for or already have gambling addictions. Statistics Canada reported that 5% of adults in the country have problems severe enough to impede their family or professional lives. Debates on whether commercial casinos have more positive or negative effects on those who live near them is ongoing. Casinos can bring crime and drugs to an area, but they also bring in money to build green space and maintain infrastructure.
A common misconception about casinos is that they are not allowed in cities and are only allowed on native reserve land; in reality, legislation on where a casino is built lies in the hands of the province and voters’ choice, often by referendum. Native reserve land is no exception to this rule, although the reserve is often entitled to a portion of the profits. The first ever casino on reserve land was opened in 1993. Today, more and more casinos are being built to increase income, although the social ramifications are spiraling. Programs like Gamblers Anonymous are becoming more and more common, costing the government millions of dollars a year.
Bringing in billions of dollars of revenue each year, the benefits of gaming and gambling are hard to deny, but for citizens in our society there is a price to be paid to reap the benefits. Research has shown that gambling addictions are linked with poverty, low socio-economic statuses and substance abuse. As has been said, “the lottery is a tax on people who are bad at math.”
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