Two Ontario Casinos to Get Help Centers for Problem Gamblers
3 April 2005
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp will institute information centers to aid compulsive gamblers at two of Ontario's casinos, just a hop, skip and a jump from the gaming floor. Information centers, the first of which will be established at the Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls and at Casino Windsor, will have counselors on hand, who are trained in treating gambling problems. Compulsive gamblers will supposedly not have access to actual counseling on site; rather counselors will direct gamblers to aid centers. Information centers are being set up as part of a broader initiative to combat problem gambling.
The opposition sees these measures as insufficient and wants to see more drastic changes both on the casino floor and off. Demands include the removal of cash machines from the casino floor as well as a toning down of marketing strategies. The existing strategy revolves mostly around exclusion lists, which gamblers voluntary sign to curb their gambling habits. Once signing an exclusion list, gamblers are denied entry to the casino floor for six months.
Although compulsive gamblers make up only about five percent of the gambling population, they contribute about 35 percent of Ontario's annual gambling revenue. Additionally, compulsive gambling is said to play a part in 200 to 360 suicides each year.
The government-owned Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. purports an interest to eliminate gambling problems. However, problem gamblers essentially help the corporation gather revenue, necessary to pay the government its cut.
Source: Online Casinos News Staff
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