29-Jun-09. Russian roulette. National Post, A3.

The Russian government is shutting down all legal casino and slot-machine parlors across the country on Wednesday as part of an anti-vice plan. The Kremlin has offered the gambling industry only one option for survival: relocate to four regions in remote areas of Russia, as many as 4,000 miles from Moscow. Casinos are now to be confined to the Altai region of Siberia; the coastal area of the Far East, near the border with North Korea and China; Kaliningrad, which is a Russian enclave between Poland and Lithuania; and the Azov Sea region in the south. Until casinos open there, Russia will be one of the few countries in Europe without them.

18-Jun-09. Rodent research: Life in the rat race leads to gambling. National Post,

University of British Columbia behavioural neuroscientist Catharine Winstanley’s research on “gambling” by rats may prove instrumental in curing high-risk gambling addictions in humans. For the study, rats had to play against the clock in choosing between four gambling options to win different numbers of sugar pellets. Dr. Winstanley called the study an important first step in offering clues into what neurotransmitters or what brain chemicals are involved in regulating gambling behaviour.

15-Jun-09. Aboriginal radio coming, and there’ll be bingo. Edmonton Journal, A1.

Radio bingo is coming to Edmonton airwaves this summer as rural-based aboriginal radio station CFWE-FM expands. Radio bingo is a side program for CFWE-FM that began in 1996 as a way for the station to finance capital projects like the Edmonton transmitter. Most bingo players buy their cards from a network of rural corner stores, pizza places and native friendship centres. If a player wins, they phone in and give their card number which is then checked automatically when the verifier punches the code into a computer.

13-Jun-09. Casino operator downgraded. Edmonton Journal, E3.

Gateway Casinos and Entertainment, which owns the Baccarat and Palace Casinos in Edmonton, had its rating lowered to negative Friday by Moody’s. Burnaby,  B.C.-based Gateway is struggling with continuation of significant leverage, earnings challenges related to weak gaming demand trends, a slow ramp-up of its Grand Villa Burnaby expansion, and increased competition among existing casino operators, Moody’s said.

11-Jun-09. EU calls on U.S. to drop gambling ban. Globe and Mail, B6.

This newsbrief reports that the European Union yesterday urged the United States to open talks on ending a ban on foreign online gambling companies, saying it breaks global trade rules. The European Commission said the U.S. ban shut out gambling sites such as Britain’s PartyGaming PLC and Sportingbet PLC from the United States’ lucrative $4-billion (U.S.) market, causing companies to lose revenue and stock market value.

8-Jun-09. VLT debate possible. Red Deer Advocate, A1.

Groups both for and against the re-introduction of video lottery terminals (VLTs) look forward to a debate if one is called on whether the machines should be returned to Rocky Mountain House. Jim Pogson, manager of Duffer’s Pub, claims that many former customers are leaving town to play VLT machines in surrounding communities. Rev. Dale Hanson of the town’s ministerial association said the machines are not wanted in the town and that there are numerous examples of people resorting to crime to feed their gambling addictions.

3-Jun-09. Rocky residents to vote on VLTs in July. Red Deer Advocate, B1.

Rocky Mountain House residents will head to the polls at the end of July to determine the fate of video lottery terminals (VLTs) in their town. Town council gave first reading to a bylaw on Monday and a plebiscite will be held July 27. The question will ask people if they favour council recommending to the province that VLTs return to Rocky.