22-Nov-08. Bingo appeals to older crowd not interested in casinos, online games. Red Deer Advocate, E12.

This article examines the social appeal of bingo to residents of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Bingo could be played daily in Sault Ste. Marie in 1970, and there were 20 regular bingo operators in the city in 1985. Now, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25 Ladies Auxiliary is the only one. Algoma University psychology professor Arthur Perlini says the emergence of more local gambling options and online opportunities in the past decade have contributed to the decline of traditional bingo in the city.

22-Nov-08. Rocky group wants to gamble again on a VLT plebiscite. Red Deer Advocate, A1.

In Rocky Mountain House, the Rocky Pubs and Lounges Association is circulating a  petition to hold a plebiscite on the re-introduction of video lottery terminals (VLTs) to the town of 8,000. VLTs were outlawed by voters in a plebiscite 11 years ago when two-thirds of 1,600 votes cast opted to rid the town of the machines. Association spokesperson Jim Pogson said group members want to level the playing field with nearby out-of-town businesses that have VLTs.

20-Nov-08. Lottery corporation not playing fair. Red Deer Advocate, A4.

This opinion-style article makes a recommendation that the Western Canada Lottery Corp. (WCLC) stop selling instant lottery tickets after the major prizes have been claimed. The practice was recently brought to light by an investigative CBC team from Winnipeg. In the United States, lottery operators have been forced by customer complaints and pending lawsuits to end a game of chance when the top prize has been won.

20-Nov-08. $100M suit charges lotto policy unfair. Edmonton Journal, A8.

Regina lawyer Tony Merchant has filed a class-action lawsuit against the Western Canadian Lottery Corp. and Saskatchewan lottery agencies. The suit involves the continued sale of scratch-and-win lottery tickets after big prizes have already been won. On average, a top prize is won after 50 per cent of lottery tickets are sold which means that half of these tickets are purchased by people when they no l onger have a chance to win the jackpot.

18-Nov-08. What’s with MLAs handing out grants? Edmonton Journal, A18.

This article reports that several Alberta politicians, including MLA Rob Anderson of Airdrie-Chestermere, have taken very personal approaches to the spending of Alberta lottery funds though local community funding grants. Lottery funds are supposed to be approved, independently, by bureaucrats from the department of culture and community spirit, on strict competitive criteria. In question period on Monday, Liberal leader Kevin Taft cited examples of how political patronage was colouring the way lottery grants are handled in the province. He called on the government to return to the system, abolished in 2002, whereby the lottery grants were allocated by independent regional boards.

11-11-08. Of beer, bets and charity. Red Deer Advocate, A4.

This article briefly examines Albertan statistics recently published in reports from the Alberta Gaming Research Institute and the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission. In the last fiscal year, gross gambling revenues in Alberta reached $26-billion which is up 75 per cent since 2001. Statistics Canada says the average Albertan spends $890 per year on gambling versus the national average of $524.

10-Nov-08. Alberta gamers ante up $26B. Calgary Herald, A1.

A new study examining the gambling habits of Albertans suggests that there has been a decline in the percentages of both gamblers and problem gamblers. Alberta Gaming Research Institute research coordinator Robert Williams warned these problem players are, however, responsible for a growing proporation of the province’s gaming revenues. The Institute’s findings, to be published later in a report, come from a phone survey of 7,500 adult Albertans across the province, between June and August this year, that queried people on their gambling habits.

6-Nov-08. Charities face loss on lottos. Edmonton Journal, A1.

An Alberta lottery supporting children’s charities called The Changing Lives Provincial Lottery is in danger of losing money this year due to poor ticket sales. Other charitable lotteries, including Edmonton’s Caritas Hospitals Lottery, have also announced that they are experiencing difficulty selling tickets. University of Alberta business professor Adam Finn says that a sour economic climate and increased lottery competition are likely contributing factors.

6-Nov-08. Economic woes hit lotteries. Calgary Herald, A6.

An Alberta lottery supporting children’s charities in in danger of losing money this year from poor ticket sales. The Changing Lives Provincial Lottery has sold barely half its tickets with two weeks left in the campaign.

5-Nov-08. Chips on the old block. Globe and Mail, A12.

A seniors’ fashion show was held yesterday in Nova Scotia to raise awareness about problem gambling among the elderly. Police and addiction specialists took advantage of the gathered crowd to provide information on the dangers of problem gambling. Elizabeth Stephen, a clinical therapist with the Capital District Health Authority who specializes in problem gambling, acknowledged that only a small percentage of seniors who gamble will develop a problem. She also argued that assessment tools designed for younger adults may not measure accurately the problem among seniors.