gambling in alberta - Research Services - University of Lethbridge
gambling in alberta - Research Services - University of Lethbridge
gambling in alberta - Research Services - University of Lethbridge
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The Edmonton mayor <strong>in</strong>dicated he believed the nearby First Nation River Cree cas<strong>in</strong>o negatively<br />
impacted Edmonton by draw<strong>in</strong>g Edmontonians away from spend<strong>in</strong>g their money at Edmonton<br />
cas<strong>in</strong>os. A similar sentiment was expressed by the mayor <strong>of</strong> Whitecourt who compla<strong>in</strong>ed the<br />
ability to smoke at the nearby First Nations cas<strong>in</strong>o negatively impacted local VLT revenue and<br />
associated bus<strong>in</strong>esses.<br />
Community Representatives’ Perspectives on Local Gambl<strong>in</strong>g and<br />
Cas<strong>in</strong>os<br />
The community representatives <strong>in</strong> this section represent 7 police service/RCMP <strong>of</strong>ficials, 9 city<br />
planners/municipal adm<strong>in</strong>istrators, 5 representatives <strong>of</strong> prov<strong>in</strong>cial treatment centres, 3<br />
prov<strong>in</strong>cial Members <strong>of</strong> Legislative Assembly, and one federal Member <strong>of</strong> Parliament.<br />
Perceived Positive Aspects <strong>of</strong> Gambl<strong>in</strong>g and Cas<strong>in</strong>os<br />
Gambl<strong>in</strong>g and cas<strong>in</strong>os were portrayed to be an accepted aspect <strong>of</strong> life <strong>in</strong> Alberta by most<br />
<strong>in</strong>dividuals due to the growth <strong>of</strong> <strong>gambl<strong>in</strong>g</strong> nationally and the perceived relatively low impact <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>gambl<strong>in</strong>g</strong> and cas<strong>in</strong>os prov<strong>in</strong>cially.<br />
All <strong>of</strong>ficials <strong>in</strong>terviewed considered AGLC adm<strong>in</strong>istration <strong>of</strong> <strong>gambl<strong>in</strong>g</strong> to be adequate, with the<br />
smaller centres unanimously <strong>in</strong>dicat<strong>in</strong>g this.<br />
Officials were all impressed with the prov<strong>in</strong>cial government’s decision to pay for local police<br />
salaries, which benefited the municipalities and established formal l<strong>in</strong>es <strong>of</strong> communication with<br />
the prov<strong>in</strong>ce. 93<br />
The police <strong>in</strong>terviewed were all impressed with cas<strong>in</strong>o security, which helped to reduce cas<strong>in</strong>o-<br />
and <strong>gambl<strong>in</strong>g</strong>-related crimes.<br />
Almost all <strong>of</strong>ficials stated they believed cas<strong>in</strong>os were catalysts for promot<strong>in</strong>g and <strong>in</strong> certa<strong>in</strong><br />
cases realiz<strong>in</strong>g economic development or expansion. Officials <strong>in</strong> communities outside the city<br />
core expressed the greatest satisfaction <strong>in</strong> cas<strong>in</strong>os expand<strong>in</strong>g the bus<strong>in</strong>ess sectors. Officials<br />
from 2 communities (Cold Lake and Whitecourt) claimed that they benefited economically from<br />
local First Nations cas<strong>in</strong>os, and expressed an <strong>in</strong>terest <strong>in</strong> establish<strong>in</strong>g formal bus<strong>in</strong>ess<br />
relationships with the host First Nations. In sum, cas<strong>in</strong>os are generally seen by most<br />
community representatives as good corporate citizens. However, at the same time, most<br />
93 With<strong>in</strong> the <strong>in</strong>vestigations branch <strong>of</strong> the Regulatory Division <strong>of</strong> AGLC is a multi-agency task force, the Gambl<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Investigations Team (GIT) (formed <strong>in</strong> 2001). GIT <strong>in</strong>vestigators are municipal police <strong>of</strong>ficers and RCMP whose<br />
wages paid by AGLC. There are 2 full time RCMP <strong>of</strong>ficers with one <strong>in</strong> Calgary and one <strong>in</strong> Edmonton. There are 4<br />
half –time <strong>of</strong>ficers, with one <strong>in</strong> Camrose, one <strong>in</strong> <strong>Lethbridge</strong>, one <strong>in</strong> Medic<strong>in</strong>e Hat, and one <strong>in</strong> the Tsuu T’<strong>in</strong>a First<br />
Nation.<br />
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