One More For Ontario's Liberal Party

[Said1]

Why don't they ban everything and get it over with once and for all.

Ontario calls halt to new slot operations

By MURRAY CAMPBELL
Friday, January 21, 2005 - Page A5

The Ontario government yesterday ended a decade of feverish expansion of the gambling industry by calling a halt to new casinos or racetrack slot operations.

Economic Development Minister Joe Cordiano also ruled out video lottery terminals in bars and restaurants, slot machines in bingo halls and any provincial involvement in Internet gambling. But he said current facilities, particularly in border areas, should be upgraded to make them more competitive. He provided few details but suggested that some of these sites could get more slot machines or gambling tables.

Mr. Cordiano said the long-awaited strategy is meant to preserve the economic viability of the gambling industry, which employs more than 20,000 Ontarians and earns the government $2.1-billion in revenue, while remaining sensitive to the issue of problem gambling.

"Our strategy will not only keep the industry competitive, it will ensure social responsibility is front and centre in the way we manage Ontario's gaming industry," he told a news conference.

The only exception to the freeze on new operations is that planned racetrack slot facilities at Picov Downs in Ajax, Ont., and Quinte Exhibition and Raceway in Belleville will be allowed to proceed.

The minister said the government could be exposed to expensive litigation if it didn't live up to agreements negotiated by the former Progressive Conservative government.

The announcement disappointed a watchdog group concerned about the fallout from state-sponsored gambling.

"It is not a moratorium as we have proposed," said Brian Yealland, spokesman for Canada's Gambling Watch Network.

"Two additional racetrack slot operations will proceed despite evidence of the high correlation between slot-machine use and problem gambling," Mr. Yealland said. "Knowing the risks and establishing two new venues anyway is irresponsible and violates the government's obligation of duty of care to its citizens."

The minister made his announcement after receiving a consultant's report that said the gambling market is near saturation and that the province needs to manage the sites it has and not build new ones.

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[Johnney]

now theres some crazy stuff there. im kind of nieve(sp?) when it comes to canada, but dont they have some type of something that allows for new business?