Would a casino be good for your city?
Concerned citizens packed Ottawa city council chambers yesterday to hear the pros and cons of locating a full-fledged casino in the capital. Many are concerned about increased crime and gambling addiction, despite the attraction of more revenues for municipal coffers.
"Gambling is an addiction with extreme consequences," local addiction counsellor Dallas Smith told council members, arguing that casinos contribute to family breakdown, domestic violence and bankruptcy.
"Gambling also has the highest rate of suicide of any type of addiction,” he said. He may be right, but it's not likely to make much difference.
"The question isn't whether the city will have a new casino, but where it will go," writes Ottawa Sun columnist Susan Sherring.
The Ontario Lottery Corporation has a new plan for casinos, she explains. It wants them modernized, more accessible to both residents and tourists, and with a lot more slots and gaming tables.
The province is shutting down its slot machine operations at racetracks and closing or relocating "underperforming" gaming facilities in favour of opening new ones closer to potential customers.
In Ottawa specifically, OLG wants the hundreds of Ontario cars now parked outside of Quebec's Lac Leamy casino (which is just a few kilometres away) to spend their money closer to home.
Except that casinos are actually costly to the public, maintains one anti-casino group, suggesting that taxpayers put up $3 for every $1 gambling contributes to the economy. They're also poor for local businesses, the group suggests.
Where do you stand? Would you want a new casino in your city?
Posted by: Rob | Oct 4, 2021 11:00:08 AM
i was called for a phone interview on my gambling interest in a new casino in my town. 2 times in a week. The interviewers don't listen. I told them "i am not interested in gambling, i will not be visiting the casino." and they kept asking me more questions about what differerent features to the casino would mean to me. it seems to be that the big money putting the things up will do what they want no matter what. The movie Rush Hour 3 said it best "Where else do people give you money and you give them nothing".
to my way of thinking, if they want to open a casino, fine, as long as they don't flaunt it or use taxpayer money.
Posted by: garry | Oct 4, 2021 1:06:10 PM
I am a senior living in western canada, and i work at a casino part time. Before the casino (I work in ) opened I was a supporter of such a venture for our city. After working in this casino for the last 5 years, I have seen every possible horror story you can imagine happen. I have seen people crying after losing a large amount of money, I have scene people hitting slot machines in anger after losing time after time, I have witnessed customers berating casino employees because the machines dont pay, I have witnessed people on self execlusion programs sneaking back into casinos only to be escorted out of the casino by security much to their embarrassment. I have witnessed high rollers investing $100 every time they spin the wheels. You can spin the wheels approx every 6 seconds, just figure out the math. Casinos do everything possible to coerce patrons to come in, including give aways, free slot plays and extra points if you bet more. People tend to forget that they are gambling, casino slot machines are the furthest thing from a sure thing you will every encounter. Casinos may serve a place in any community but people be forewarned you will lose and you will lose lots.
Posted by: Tina Sweeney | Oct 4, 2021 2:12:18 PM
I have a Casino in my town and LOVE it!!! I go in with only a small amount of money and when it's gone., it's gone...If I win it back I leave...People are not stupid and every form of gambling is out there for the taking...so much for free will and free thinking?????
Posted by: Tina Sweeney | Oct 4, 2021 2:16:34 PM
My son lives in Australia where slot machines are EVERYWHERE !! Therefore ALL Australians are gamblers???? If you see logic in this then there is NO reasoning with your kind!!!!
Posted by: slot machine gratis | Oct 4, 2021 2:52:41 PM
Casino should work only as attraction for turists. It is good to have a casino as long as local people cannot go.
Posted by: JJ | Oct 4, 2021 2:53:51 PM
I grew up in Calgary and there were Casino's all over the city. I'm not a gambler and either were my friends. We went quite often and had a great time. Sometimes we lost sometimes we won.
I agree that there will be a some special people that will have issues with gambling. But the percentage is small. You cannot stop addiction, and some will become addicted. But 99.9% will go and enjoy the casino's. Spend your money here rather than Quebec or Vegas.
Its another way to generate revenue rather than tax me more, which works for me.. Not that that is going to change either as the Gov of Ontario is addicted to charging too much tax on everything. I think its a great idea. Bring the casino's on..
Posted by: True Canadian | Oct 4, 2021 4:30:17 PM
If I had a peanut factory that spewed airborne elements around a town/city that had 4-8% of the population with peanut allergies, I too would probably have a "move if you dont like it" attitude if I was making millions/billions in profits. Too bad about the deaths/ruined lives - its only 4% of the population after all. Yet I somehow cant see THAT being permitted - not even WITH a considerable payout to those families affected.
But when its the government themselves running this cancerous business, one can expect NO compensation and NO help either for those adversely affected. All I can say is thank God for GA, as its a very difficult 12-step to successfully follow, but like a port in a storm, its salvation to many on the high seas of compulsive gambling. But most dont sail those waters, so we basically suffer in silence with a mental illness that EVERYONE shuns/denies, including many inflicted with it.
Posted by: Ann | Oct 4, 2021 6:01:20 PM
What is the most puzzling detail of this debate, is that the media hasn't told the story of those behind the proposed casinos. MGM (the operators coming to Ontario), are currently under investigation in the USA for bribery allegations and are KNOWN to have ties with Pansy Ho, who is the daughter of the HEAD OF THE CHINESE MAFIA. Are these the people coming to set up shop in Ontario? If so, do you really think they are coming to share the wealth with the people of Ontario??? I CANNOT believe that a reporter has not latched onto this story and made the public aware of the WHOLE STORY behind these casinos!!! Here are a couple of links to articles regarding organized crime who has thier eyes on Ontario. It is DEFINATELY worth a read citizens of Ontario. BE AFRAID, BE VERY AFRAID. Just google pansy ho and las vegas casinos...........very interesting reading. GOOD LUCK ONTARIO
http://news.sympatico.cbc.ca/home/italian_prosecutors_say_canada_too_lax_on_mafia/300462d1
http://www.lvrj.com/blogs/stutz/Ties_to_Pansy_Ho_could_damage_MGM_Resorts_plans_for_800_million_Maryland_casino.html
Posted by: john sebo | Oct 4, 2021 7:32:36 PM
IAM IN MENTAL ILLESS SPEND NONEY IN CASINOS NOT MONEY FOR IT PLASED NO MOR CASINNO IN TORONTO GO TO AFRICA
Posted by: Diane | Oct 4, 2021 8:27:17 PM
We have a casino in our small city. The majority of locals who frequent the casino are those who can least afford it. Sad that our municipal and provincial government raises money at the expense of human values. More than sad it's disgusting!!
Posted by: Steve | Oct 4, 2021 9:34:26 PM
Great idea !
But why stop at casino's?
Why not Crack houses, Government funded Brothels, Meth labs & MJ grow ops?
All generate huge incomes and could provide a lucrative source of revenue for the government !
Sure... there will be people that say, like casino's the social cost rapidly eclipses any nominal return, but who care's about those sour pusses? Let's start the lotto of life. Heck, why not have people gamble their future CPP cheques? Just think of the money for the government !
Posted by: Jim Naknao | Jan 6, 2022 10:43:06 PM
I read in a medical text dealing with addiction that there will always be a percentage of the population that will struggle with negative behaviors, alcohol, drugs, food, gambling etc. Most will mature out of these negative behaviors, some won't and will need some kind of professional intervention. I beleive that Governments have developed a dependancy to monies generated from gambling especially provinces like Alberta where for example over 23 billion dollars was spent within one year with all forms of gambling and resulted in a 2.2 billion dollar profit. Many of these funds are distributed within the many Ministries and go back to the population. I could be wrong, but I beleive that one half of one per cent of those profits went to deal with problem gambling. The Alberta Government especially the AGLC spews out that they promote Responsible Gambling. The hidden message is that the Government doesn't really want to do too much to negatively affect their bottom line of income. genrated with gambling. I spoke with a pit boss about problem gambling in his casino and he commented that he witnessed many problem gamblers, however he would probably be fired if he attempted to intervene with that person's gambling behaviors. I think Mantitoba's casinoes have the right idea by inserting addiction counsellors in their casino and can do soft interventions with anyone displaying problem gambling behaviors. These are Government owned casinoes however and although they still generate an incredible amount of money at least they make an attempt at wanting to help those in distress.