ALBERTA TO STUDY ONLINE GAMBLING

9 February 2007

Now why didn't the Americans do this?

Legislators in the scenic Canadian province of Alberta, heart of the Rocky Mountains have taken what to many is a logical approach to online gambling: studying the industry before deciding on any legislation that might impact it.

A spokesman for the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission this week said the organisation has commissioned a poll to determine Albertans' feelings about online gambling.

The commission wants a firm feel for the implications before deciding whether to accept, regulate and tax Internet gambling in the province.

The survey began this week with a telephone poll and now a further 800 Albertans are being contacted online.

"It's getting a bit of insight into what Albertans are doing now,"said Marilyn Carlyle-Helms of the Commission. "Are they playing (online)? And what types of games are they playing?"

The poll is looking at poker, bingo and blackjack. It should wrap up mid-February, with results tabulated sometime in March, says Carlyle-Helms.

Inevitably, there is political opposition. Mo Elsalhy, a Liberal Party gaming critic, said adding Internet gambling to the province's income is "a dangerous turn. "We definitely have to talk about weaning government off its addiction to gambling revenues," Elsalhy said.

He said Internet gambling leads to more spending at the hands of those trying to get rich quick.

"Because you're at home, you're cosy, you're in your pyjamas, you are actually probably bound to spend more," Elsalhy said.

Carlyle-Helms said that if the province were to allow Internet gambling sites to be based out of Alberta - with the government taking a cut of the action - it won't happen for a some time.

In November, it was projected Alberta would take in $1.4 billion from land gambling in the province this fiscal year. Some of that money funds AADAC to deal with various addictions. It also funds community programs.

Ralph McNabb, a former consultant to the Problem Gambling Resource Network of Alberta opposes the Internet regulation idea and says residents of the province don't want the government in the gambling business.

"The public is fed up with gambling in this province," he says without backing his statement with fact. "The government already takes in over $1 billion a year from gambling, and in the process destroys the lives of countless people."

Online Casino News courtesy of InfoPowa

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