Blacklock’s- Gambling’s Up, Senators Told
Gambling addiction in Canada has worsened since Parliament legalized single event sports betting three years ago, researchers have told the Senate.
“Seven percent of Canadians met the criteria for problem gambling,” Matthew Young, researcher for the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, told the Senate transport and communications committee. “Rates of problem gambling are even higher among younger Canadians aged 18 to 34 reaching 15 percent,” added Young.
Personal choice, but no money should be handed out to solve this “problem”. Live with your choices, no matter how stupid they may be.
Exactly Dwayne. People get addicted to all manner of things. Do we ban all of them or just the ones ‘we’ disapprove of?
I remember the ‘Liquor Board’ stores back in the 70’s. Nothing on show, write what you want on a chit and the guy goes outback and puts it into a brown paper bag, the contents of which had to go into the trunk and not be opened till you’re home. And they were closed on election day too……
At least you could smoke in the outback. Strewth.
There is a reason why gambling was long considered a vice.
I don’t think Jesus said anything about slot machines and scratch off tickets. He was against loan sharks in the temple, a different kind of gambling.
Half the churches around here hold a bingo night. Some organize bus trips to casinos.
meanwhile Nanny Moe and his Sask Party as well as numerous First Nation bands continue to profit from the misery of problem gamblers at their facilities
FYI:
VLT gambling was established in July 1993 in Saskatchewan by the Roy Romano NDP government.
It has been embraced by Romano (NDP), Calvert (NDP), Wall (SP), and Moe (SP).
I’m betting the government doesn’t give a shit.
I know I don’t.
It certainly taints sports and it has turned portions of broadcasts into insulting slaps to people who actually understand what’s going on and are watching despite the stupid money.
What are the odds of that happening?
It’s a problem. Half the ads on TV today are for some kind of online gambling and some of the people being paid for endorsements should be ashamed. Hello Great One. Like cigarettes and liquor, feel free to do what you want but don’t encourage it and I think smart phones with the pretty colours and sounds and play for free is more dangerous than tobacco companies and distilleries eking out market share.
I have seen so many ads for sports betting and online casinos like Stake that it isn’t funny.
Sooooo, 6/49 doesn’t like competition!!!!!
“Yes, but in the government’s defense, exploiting people’s addictions which puts money in our hands is a good thing.”
Its a good thing being addicted to booze and drugs doesn’t increase reckless behavior like gambling or else I’d expect an increase in crime and pan handling and homelessness.
“Please disperse. Nothing to see here. Please disperse.”
Everything bad is up and everything good is down.. Ten years of TurdO has seen to that..
Yup, that’s pretty much it in a nutshell.
“Now don’t forget about the 14 point spread …” . – Mike Damone, Fast Times at Ridgemont High
The next frontier is prostitution, the only vice left not peddled and taxed by the gubmint. I try to imagine what a government-run whorehouse would look like. And all the mandated DEI and LGBTQ insanity thrown in. The worse is that when you talk about legalizing prostitution to a typical Canadian, they launch into how the government would ensure safety, and have regular mandated medical exams, have tax revenues, etc. It is inconcievable to the average Canadian that 2 people could make a personal contract to exchange sex for money without involving 3 or 4 layers of government.
“I try to imagine what a government-run whorehouse would look like.”
Same as the press gallery.
Fat, Stupid & Ugly
Gambling is up because people are desperate to get money. They spend the last buck in the hopes of hitting it big. The average guy can’t print money and if he does all he will get is three hots and cot behind bars.
50 years ago I worked with a fellow in BC who fancied himself a Gambler as per the Kenny Roger’s song. He was gambling (and losing) his pay-cheques back then and, as is the case with all dummies who think they’re clever, he hasn’t learned anything in half a century; he’s still busted, and driving a truck at 70 to keep himself fed, housed, and playing back-room poker
At least the governments aren’t grabbing any of his substantial losses.
I remember as a kid watching “The Untouchables” and to me Elliot Ness and his crew were heroes ,saving us from “bootlegging and the numbers racket”. Loved Walter Winchell’s narration.
Now, De Guvvermint is in charge of those vices and dope too, and the lotteries pay out a smaller percentage than the Numbers Racket. I suppose it’s because the Mafia knew their clients better and had ethics.
Gambling ads on all sports broadcasts are nauseating, and I don’t appreciate Wayne Gretzky shilling for Big gambling, lowers his role model profile in my opinion.
And I, like pappy have been wondering when they’d get into hookers, only a matter of time.
Maybe they should coordinate addictions with legal euthanasia, “gambling debts got you down, are you in a place where you’ll never get out? May we suggest…………..?
Gretzky shilling for big pharma is worse.
Government sponsored gambling started in 1975 to fund the ‘76 Montréal Olympics. The first drawing was a long drawn out variety show. Tickets were a very expensive $10. A computer was used to “generate” the winning numbers (to ensure the $1 million grand prize was won in Québec). It was won in Québec but it also turned out to be a problem as 10 women from Montréal purchased the ticket. There was no provision to make it Income Tax exempt for nine of the 10. This issue made for rule changes to the following draw.
Gambling and abuse of credit are both massive taxes on the stupid that prevent the young from accumulating wealth.
Like all addictions it is voluntary.