Gambling Policy Part 1

Question 1

Types of gambling in Canada

Answer 1

• various types
• casino-based games (table games and electronic gaming machines - EGMs), non-casino based games, lotteries, charity games like bingo, wagering, internet gambling

Question 2

Historical context of gambling in Canada

Answer 2

• used to be seen as criminal and a moral vice
• eventually small-scale gambling legalized for charitable purposes -> in 1969, became national/provincial (shift from prohibition to regulation)
• in 1980s, federal government ceded gambling authority to provinces -> provs used this authority to expand the availability and scope of gambling mainly to generate needed non-tax revenue

Question 3

Historical context of gambling in BC

Answer 3

• provincial government main influencer/proponent of expansion (and main recipient of revenue)
• municipal governments, charities, and private gambling operators also pushed for expansion at times

Question 4

How do we classify gamblers?

Answer 4

• Canadian Problem Gambling Index (CGPI):
• Non-gamblers (has not gambled in past 12 months): 27.5%
• Non-problem gamblers (score of 0 on CGPI): 61%
• Low-risk gamblers (score of 1-2): 8%
• Moderate-risk gambler (score of 3-7): 3%
• Problem gambler (score of 8 or more): 1%

Question 5

Why a report on gambling policy?

Answer 5

• governments influence harm and benefit of gambling (provide access to gambling and treatment for gambling addiction)
• harms of problem gambling are mainly private, creating a bias towards expansion to generate revenue
• over the past 30 years, gambling availability/revenue expanded substantially -> larger than revenue for alcohol and tobacco combined
• public health policy and regulation is the solution with the lowest risk of potential harm (compared to prohibition and unregulated expansion)

Question 6

social and economic impacts of gambling

Answer 6

• impact are usually economically positive and socially negative
• economic impacts: increased government revenue, public services, regulatory costs, various impacts on businesses (depending if they’re complimentary or competitive with gambling)
• social impacts: increased problem gambling and associated harms, crime, socio-economic inequality, negative attitudes towards gambling

Question 7

factors affecting impacts of gambling

Answer 7

• availability (the more accessible it is, the less people like it)
• type of gambling facilities, games, etc.
• whether revenue comes from community members or visitors
• policies and programs available to address gambling
• etc.

Question 8

Revenue

Answer 8

• although problem gamblers make up only 1% of the population, they generate 20-30% of total gambling revenue
• governments like to see gambling as a personal choice, as it leaves the issue of collective decision-making (policy) out of the picture and allows govs to expand gambling to increase non-tax revenue