6-Oct-09. Wheels of fate aren’t always kind to seniors. Globe and Mail, A15.

Subsidizing commercial bus fares to bring patrons to casinos is common across Canada. The Quebec government pays some of the highest bus subsidies of any province – more than $3.2-million over the past two fiscal years to transport patrons to its casinos, according to figures obtained by The Globe and Mail under the Freedom of Information Act. Although such bus tours were long thought to be benign, researchers now question whether these trips set seniors up for future gambling problems.

21-May-09. Quebec gaming commission ‘troubled’ by allegations it doctored a study. National Post, A4.

The president of the Quebec gaming commission said yesterday he is “troubled” by allegations his organization doctored a study critical of the government’s anti-gambling efforts. This comes a day after Quebec Public Security Minister Jacques Dupuis ordered an internal investigation following media reports that the commission tabled a whitewash study as evidence at a class-action lawsuit against Loto-Quebec launched last fall.

29-Nov-08. CSIS turning to natives in search of information. Globe and Mail, A4.

Over the past 18 months, CSIS agents have approached several people with ties to the Kahnawake Mohawk reserve south of Montreal and invited them to clandestine meetings. CSIS told these individuals that they wanted to know about contraband tobacco, a subject of long-standing interest to the RCMP, and Internet gambling.

8-Oct-08. Seven seconds separates man from millions. Globe and Mail, A3.

Joel Ifergan is suing Loto-Québec for $13.5-million, saying that a time lag in the corporation’s computers cost him his share of a $27-million prize. Ifergan bought what he thought was a winning lottery ticket one night at 8:59 p.m., but it was processed and printed only after the draw’s dealine at 9 p.m. Loto-Québec technicians have admitted to a delay of eight to ten seconds between the request of a lottery ticket and the processing time in Loto-Québec’s central computer.

16-Sep-08. Addicted gamblers sue Loto-Québec. National Post, A7.

The hearing of a class-action lawsuit against Loto-Québec opened yesterday in Quebec City with the testimony of a former journalist Nelson Labrie who squandered $360,000 playing video lottery terminals (VLTs).  Labrie is part of a group of pathological gamblers who filed a class-action lawsuit seeking compensation for the province’s estimated 119,000 addicted gamblers. The lawyer for Loto-Québec said in his opening statement that no scientific study has proven that VLTs can cause addiction and added that the government is doing much to help problem gamblers deal with their addiction.

4-Sep-08. Gambler’s chip implants would deactivate VLTs. Calgary Herald, A18.

Quebec businessman Chantal Audet has developed a device that prevents problem gamblers from using electronic gambling machines. It works by implanting a computer chip on people who voluntarily submit to the procedure. A similar chip would be installed on all the province’s VLT machines, making them go blank as the patron approaches them. The same technique could also be used at the entrance of casinos to block access to someone at the turnstiles. Loto-Quebec, which helped finance a part of the project, is now cool to the idea.

19-Aug-08. Quebec gambling addicts launch suit. Red Deer Advocate, C5.

A class-action lawsuit launched by a group of pathological gamblers is seeking compensation from Loto-Quebec for treatment. The plaintiffs claim 119,000 gamblers can trace their addictions to video lottery terminals (VLTs) which means a judgement could cost Loto-Quebec upwards of $500-million excluding damages. Launched in 2001 by Jean Brochu, a lawyer and recovering problem gambler, the lawsuit cites government reports that claim VLTs have been tied to pathological gambling.

5-Mar-08. Ottawa targets gaming. National Post, A1.

The federal government said yesterday that it is considering new measures to halt Internet gaming sites based on a native reserve in Quebec. The government deems the approximately 400 poker and sports betting sites operating from the Kahnawake reserve near Montreal to be illegal, but neither the federal or provincial governments have attempted to enforce the law. The Mohawks of Kahnawake say these laws do not apply to them since they are a soverign nation.

6-Jun-07. How Chretien lost the lottery. Calgary Herald, A18.

This editorial recalls Jean Chretien’s involvement with Loto-Canada, and this organization’s ties to the promotion of national unity.  Loto-Canada lost millions of dollars during the 1970s and 1980s promoting festivals, concerts and other events in Quebec.

6-Mar-07. Alleged Mafioso ran 25 gambling shops: police. National Post, A6.

Police say an alleged Mafia underboss was running a sport bookmaking syndicate through which almost half a billion dollars flowed in a period of just 11 months. In Quebec, Internet and telephone sports gambling out of houses in Khanawke, Montreal and Laval.