gambling in alberta - Research Services - University of Lethbridge

Most mayors (4/7) did not believe that the casinos created any significant competition with
other economic sectors. Most mayors were also pleased with casino and gambling related
employment although they were less enthusiastic about its low-skilled nature. However, no
mayor was able to provide statistical data to quantify or support these beliefs.
The mayors were all pleased with the fact that the casino operators were openly
communicative and transparent in their dealings prior to and after construction. Excellent
communication between local police and casino security was also highlighted by all
participants.
None of the mayors cited significant physical infrastructure deterioration resulting from the
casinos. In the few cases where infrastructure has deteriorated and required upgrading it was
perceived to be offset as a result of gambling-related charitable/community funding.
Perceived Negative Aspects of Gambling and Casinos
All but one mayor indicated they believe that gambling and casinos had a minimal negative
impact on their communities. Paradoxically, the mayors also regularly cited increased crime
resulting from casinos and gambling, although they contextualized it in such as way as to
downplay its impacts. The mayor of Lethbridge was the one person who indicated that he
believed that gambling generally, and the casino more specifically, negatively impacted his
community’s social fabric by exacerbating problem gambling. He also suggested that provincial
gambling represented a regressive taxation regime, and should be eliminated.
Concerns were expressed about the province of Alberta’s unwillingness to properly fund
addictions programs, with 4/7 mayors being dissatisfied with the poor state of provincial
addictions treatment programs.
Four mayors complained about what they believed to be a lack of transparency about how
provincial gambling revenues were being spent. A couple of mayors suggested that this lack of
transparency has led to increasing municipal-provincial tensions because of the municipalities
having to accept responsibility for development projects that are provincially-mandated.
All mayors conveyed the belief that the provincial government was ‘addicted to gambling
revenues’. Furthermore, that these revenues were being used to fund government operations
at the expense of provincial charities. Related to this was the belief that the growth of casino
gambling has hurt other traditional charity games types such as bingo, leading to one of the
more provocative themes to emerge: with casinos comes a corresponding loss of community.
This is due to the fact that charities now rely more on casino revenue to raise funds, and the
waiting time between casino events is quite considerable (currently 30 months). Previously a
sense of community resulted from conducting regular bingos, which connected charity workers
with the public. This loss of regular contact has weakened public saliency.
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