7-Jul-09. VLTs no cure for recession. Edmonton Journal, A12.

This editorial examines the video lottery terminal (VLT) plebiscite being held in Rocky Mountain House and notes that the VLT has largely  faded from the public eye. The fact that the machines are less contentious stems from Alberta’s cap on VLTs which has held their numbers at 6,000 provincewide since 1994. Shortly after imposing the VLT cap, in 1996, the province introduced electronic slot machines, which are much like VLTs, but offer bigger jackpots and unlimited maximum bets. A key difference is that the slots are allowed only in casinos and at racing entertainment centres. According to the author, it appears that the primary concern of Albertans seemed to be more about the wide  availability of gambling machines in every small-town bar across the province than about electronic gambling in general.

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.

22-Mar-09. Slot machines fill VLT void. Calgary Herald, A1.

In this article, it is reported that Alberta is now home to  12,386 slot machines, according to the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission (AGLC). In fiscal 2007, slots delivered the government more revenue that VLTs (video lottery  terminals) for the first time, $748-million to $750-million. Researcher Garry Smith of the Alberta Gaming Research Institute argues the government is addicted to increasing the numbers of the machines themselves, especially now they’re bigger revenue-generators than VLTs. Although there is a officially no cap on slot machines, the AGLC has delayed all decisions on opening new casinos or expanding existing ones until a major socioeconomic study and marketplace capacity study are complete.

14-Feb-09. Harness racing expected at track by April. Red Deer Advocate, A6.

The Alberta Downs horse racetrack near Lacombe has plans to open in mid-April if a development permit approval is granted by Lacombe County’s municipal planning commission on February 24. The project suffered a recent setback when the province did not approve an application for up to 150 slot machines for a proposed onsite racing entertainment centre. An Alberta Gaming spokesperson said on Thursday that new gaming licences are on hold until the end of March. A review of gambling and the province’s capacity for more venues is set to begin in April.

29-Nov-08. Harness industry champing at the bit. Edmonton Journal, A1.

The closing of the track at Calgary’s Stampede Park and a two-year delay in opening a new track at Balzac have left harness racers with nowhere to race. Alberta horse racing officials will soon announce a plan to assist harness racing in the province by opening the doors at Northlands Park in Edmonton to 50 days of races this year. Competition with other forms of gambling has to led to declining attendance, and betting at the track for both thoroughbred and standardbred racing in Alberta. The province has supported the industry since 2002 through a program that allows horse racing to keep some of the proceeds of slot machines at racetrack entertainment centres.

8-Jul-08. New casino proves a hit with patrons. Calgary Herald, B1.

Calgary’s Stampede Casino has now been open for one month in its new location and is proving to be popular with patrons. Owned by Calgary West Hospitality, which also owns Deerfoot Inn and Casino, the new facility is 96,000 square feet, and contains 620 slots, 40 table games and a 24-hour poker room. The original Stampede casino closed shop on June 14, but there’s still 400 slot machines in the Big 4 building. The slots are on site for the 10-day Calgary Stampede at the request of the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission. The slots belong to the summer fair casino program – which means they tour the provincial summer fair circuit.

11-Apr-08. Horse-racing entertainment centre clears hurdle. Red Deer Advocate, B1.

Lacombe County council gave second reading on Thursday to a pair of bylaws that lay the regulatory groundwork for the Alberta Downs horse-racing entertainment centre to be located just outside the town boundary. The first bylaw rezones the land for commercial use and the second allows for an entertainment centre, including slot machines, as a discretionary use. Objections raised during the public hearing process focused on the entertainment centre, which would include a licensed lounge with 120 slot machines.

21-Mar-08. Both sides state cases. Red Deer Advocate, A1.

Thursday’s public meeting on a horse racing proposal to be located just outside of Lacombe heard from those in support of the project as well as people who are opposed. Alberta Downs is being proposed by land owner Robert Allen and the Rocky Mountain Turf Club. The most contentious issue is the plan to place 120 slot machines in the licensed lounge that has been included as part of the development.

9-Jan-08. City asks for larger share of slot gains. National Post, A16.

The Toronto City Council’s executive committee voted yesterday to dispatch the Mayor and bureaucrats to try to negotiate a deal with the Province of Ontario that would increase the city’s share from slot machines at Woodbine Racetrack. The city would like to see its share of net wins from slots rise to 10%, up from about 2.69%. The proposed new formula would see the city generate $55-million annually from Woodbine’s 1,950 machines.

15-Jun-07. ‘Broke’ province putting millions on horses: Grits. Calgary Herald, A1.

The Alberta Liberals are criticizing the ruling Conservatives for budgeting $56-million towards horse racing this year.  The funding is derived from slot machine and VLT revenues from gambling machines at racetracks.  A ten year deal has been signed between the Alberta government and Horse Racing Alberta.