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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1950s Gambl<strong>in</strong>g is a popular activity, as a 1950 poll by the Canadian Institute <strong>of</strong> Public Op<strong>in</strong>ion<br />
shows that 80% <strong>of</strong> Canadians gamble. There is fairly widespread violation <strong>of</strong> <strong>gambl<strong>in</strong>g</strong> laws.<br />
Unlicensed <strong>in</strong>stant w<strong>in</strong> tickets (‘pull tickets’) are common (e.g., Lucky 7 jar tickets). Licensed<br />
lotteries, raffles and sweepstakes are commonly held for community purposes (e.g., build<strong>in</strong>g<br />
a new r<strong>in</strong>k) or commercial purposes (sales promotion contests) rather than strictly for<br />
charitable and/or religious purposes. Charitable and religious organizations operate regular<br />
rather than occasional b<strong>in</strong>go events. Prizes for lotteries, raffles, and b<strong>in</strong>go typically far<br />
exceed the $50 limit and are rarely first <strong>of</strong>fered for sale (as required). Rigged carnival games<br />
are common. Fraudulent lotteries and fixed b<strong>in</strong>go games are not uncommon. Off-track<br />
horse race bett<strong>in</strong>g and sports bett<strong>in</strong>g are discreetly available at some barber shops, tobacco<br />
shops, pool halls, bowl<strong>in</strong>g alleys and via the local bookie. The general public sees some<br />
arbitrar<strong>in</strong>ess <strong>in</strong> what is legal (horse rac<strong>in</strong>g, stock market, <strong>gambl<strong>in</strong>g</strong> at private social clubs)<br />
and what is not (lotteries, regular b<strong>in</strong>go). 18 Polls show Canadians to be <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>gly <strong>in</strong> favour<br />
<strong>of</strong> legal lotteries.<br />
There is also lax and <strong>in</strong>consistent enforcement <strong>of</strong> <strong>gambl<strong>in</strong>g</strong> laws. Police forces and prov<strong>in</strong>cial<br />
Attorneys General advocate the federal government for clarification <strong>of</strong> exist<strong>in</strong>g lottery laws<br />
as well as relaxation <strong>of</strong> prohibitions because <strong>of</strong> public nonsupport. However, church groups<br />
(Protestant & Anglican) and the Canadian Welfare Council advocate for cont<strong>in</strong>ued<br />
prohibition <strong>of</strong> lotteries and strict enforcement as ‘obta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g someth<strong>in</strong>g for noth<strong>in</strong>g’ set a bad<br />
example; expanded licens<strong>in</strong>g and control would encourage further <strong>in</strong>volvement <strong>of</strong> crim<strong>in</strong>al<br />
elements; it would underm<strong>in</strong>e charitable giv<strong>in</strong>g; and because lotteries preyed<br />
disproportionately on the poor. 1956 Report on Lotteries<br />
1952 Further ref<strong>in</strong>ement <strong>of</strong> the def<strong>in</strong>ition <strong>of</strong> a slot mach<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong> the Alberta Slot Mach<strong>in</strong>e Act to<br />
specifically exclude vend<strong>in</strong>g mach<strong>in</strong>es and juke boxes from the def<strong>in</strong>ition (however, ‘p<strong>in</strong>ball<br />
mach<strong>in</strong>es’ were <strong>in</strong>cluded (and therefore prohibited) as they did not provide anyth<strong>in</strong>g back) 1952<br />
Alberta Slot Mach<strong>in</strong>e Act<br />
A Royal Commission review<strong>in</strong>g the Crim<strong>in</strong>al Code found <strong>in</strong>consistencies <strong>in</strong> the gam<strong>in</strong>g laws, but<br />
did not recommend any substantive changes, “because <strong>of</strong> the controversial nature <strong>of</strong> the matters<br />
<strong>in</strong>volved”. Report <strong>of</strong> Royal Commission on the Revision <strong>of</strong> Crim<strong>in</strong>al Code<br />
Harness rac<strong>in</strong>g becomes a regularly scheduled event at some tracks.<br />
1953 Crim<strong>in</strong>al Code amendment (s.179) <strong>in</strong>dicat<strong>in</strong>g that any place with a slot mach<strong>in</strong>e shall be<br />
conclusively presumed to be a common gam<strong>in</strong>g house (and therefore, illegal).<br />
Crim<strong>in</strong>al Code amendment (s.180) to <strong>in</strong>dicate that <strong>gambl<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>in</strong> any vehicle, aircraft, or vessel used<br />
as a public conveyance is illegal (previously <strong>in</strong>dicated that <strong>gambl<strong>in</strong>g</strong> on just railway cars or<br />
steamboats was illegal). 1953/54 Crim<strong>in</strong>al Code <strong>of</strong> Canada<br />
1956 A Jo<strong>in</strong>t Committee <strong>of</strong> the Senate and House <strong>of</strong> Commons recommended: cont<strong>in</strong>ued prohibition and<br />
effective enforcement <strong>of</strong> all lotteries; cont<strong>in</strong>ued exemption for charitable/religious purposes and<br />
agricultural organizations; a significant <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> the allowable size <strong>of</strong> prizes; the exist<strong>in</strong>g exemption<br />
for provid<strong>in</strong>g ‘occasional’ games <strong>of</strong> chance by charitable or religious organizations to be replaced with<br />
a maximum yearly limit on prizes by any one organization; b<strong>in</strong>go to be treated as a type <strong>of</strong> lottery;<br />
cont<strong>in</strong>ued prohibition <strong>of</strong> lottery advertis<strong>in</strong>g; and no prov<strong>in</strong>cial or federal lottery as the appropriate<br />
role <strong>of</strong> government is to regulate <strong>gambl<strong>in</strong>g</strong>, not provide it. 1956 Report on Lotteries<br />
18 Partly underly<strong>in</strong>g the legality <strong>of</strong> some forms and the illegality <strong>of</strong> others was a historical belief that <strong>gambl<strong>in</strong>g</strong> was an<br />
acceptable past-time for the rich, but not for the work<strong>in</strong>g class.<br />
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