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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1980s There is a major expansion <strong>of</strong> legal <strong>gambl<strong>in</strong>g</strong> co<strong>in</strong>cident with a significant <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> per<br />
capita <strong>gambl<strong>in</strong>g</strong> expenditures. There is a significant <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> the number <strong>of</strong> dedicated<br />
b<strong>in</strong>go halls operated by b<strong>in</strong>go associations (groups <strong>of</strong> charities). There is a significant<br />
<strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> lottery revenues. Horse race bett<strong>in</strong>g beg<strong>in</strong>s to decl<strong>in</strong>e despite the <strong>in</strong>troduction <strong>of</strong><br />
phone-<strong>in</strong> and <strong>of</strong>f-track bett<strong>in</strong>g. Legal sports bett<strong>in</strong>g is <strong>in</strong>troduced. Permanent cas<strong>in</strong>os<br />
<strong>of</strong>fer<strong>in</strong>g table games are <strong>in</strong>troduced with private cas<strong>in</strong>o owners be<strong>in</strong>g contracted to provide<br />
space and services for charity, religious or agricultural ‘cas<strong>in</strong>o events’.<br />
The Alberta Gam<strong>in</strong>g Control Branch uses a more liberal <strong>in</strong>terpretation <strong>of</strong> what constitutes a<br />
‘charitable or religious organization’ and ‘charitable or religious object or purpose’ <strong>in</strong> order<br />
to be eligible to provide raffles, lotteries, b<strong>in</strong>gos, and cas<strong>in</strong>o events. It is no longer restricted<br />
to groups whose primary purpose is to provide money, goods, or service to the less<br />
fortunate (the technical mean<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> ‘charity group’). Rather, it is expanded to <strong>in</strong>clude a wide<br />
range <strong>of</strong> community organizations whose purpose is to promote local sports, education,<br />
culture, arts, health, etc. Rules are also loosened regard<strong>in</strong>g the allowable number <strong>of</strong> cas<strong>in</strong>oevents<br />
per week, allowable number <strong>of</strong> blackjack tables per cas<strong>in</strong>o, and bett<strong>in</strong>g limits.<br />
A conflict between the federal and prov<strong>in</strong>cial governments occurred over the federal<br />
government’s <strong>in</strong>volvement <strong>in</strong> lotteries and sports bett<strong>in</strong>g, eventually lead<strong>in</strong>g to an<br />
agreement permitt<strong>in</strong>g exclusive prov<strong>in</strong>cial control <strong>in</strong> 1985.<br />
1980 The newly elected federal Liberal government re<strong>in</strong>states Lotto Canada and beg<strong>in</strong>s <strong>in</strong>vestigat<strong>in</strong>g<br />
sports bett<strong>in</strong>g as an additional <strong>of</strong>fer<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
The Alberta government adopts some <strong>of</strong> the Citizens’ Advisory Committee’s recommendations<br />
regard<strong>in</strong>g <strong>gambl<strong>in</strong>g</strong>. The most important <strong>of</strong> these are that a) no eligible organization would be<br />
refused a cas<strong>in</strong>o licence, and b) a new Alberta Gam<strong>in</strong>g Commission would be created with the<br />
responsibilities <strong>of</strong> licens<strong>in</strong>g, public <strong>in</strong>formation, and policy recommendations.<br />
The $10 Super Lotto ticket is launched by WCLF.<br />
Alberta’s first permanent cas<strong>in</strong>o (Cash Cas<strong>in</strong>o) opens <strong>in</strong> Calgary. This is a privately owned venue<br />
that is contracted to provide space and services for short-term charity, religious or agricultural<br />
cas<strong>in</strong>o events. This arrangement becomes the operational template for all subsequent<br />
permanent cas<strong>in</strong>os <strong>in</strong> the prov<strong>in</strong>ce up to the present time.<br />
1981 A new Alberta regulatory structure is established with the Gam<strong>in</strong>g Control Branch <strong>of</strong> the Attorney<br />
General’s <strong>of</strong>fice be<strong>in</strong>g responsible for adm<strong>in</strong>istration and enforcement (<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g audits and the<br />
<strong>in</strong>vestigation <strong>of</strong> licence applications) and the new Alberta Gam<strong>in</strong>g Commission be<strong>in</strong>g responsible<br />
for licens<strong>in</strong>g, appeals, public <strong>in</strong>formation, public consultation and policy recommendations.<br />
Random draws are held every 2 months to determ<strong>in</strong>e the dates when an eligible charity could<br />
hold a cas<strong>in</strong>o event.<br />
Alberta’s second permanent cas<strong>in</strong>o opens <strong>in</strong> Edmonton (Cas<strong>in</strong>o ABS, also known as Cas<strong>in</strong>o<br />
Edmonton).<br />
1982 Crim<strong>in</strong>al Code is amended (s.204) allow<strong>in</strong>g people to phone-<strong>in</strong> horse rac<strong>in</strong>g bets to the horse race<br />
course <strong>of</strong> an authorized race-track association (if the person has an account at that track) and to<br />
permit people at a horse race track to bet on races occurr<strong>in</strong>g at other tracks (‘<strong>in</strong>tertrack bett<strong>in</strong>g’).<br />
2 dedicated b<strong>in</strong>go halls are <strong>in</strong> operation <strong>in</strong> Calgary (B<strong>in</strong>go Palace; Odgen Road B<strong>in</strong>go). It becomes<br />
a requirement that b<strong>in</strong>go associations have to be formed (by groups <strong>of</strong> charities) to coord<strong>in</strong>ate<br />
b<strong>in</strong>go <strong>in</strong> these dedicated ‘commercial’ halls before the grant<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> licences.<br />
Lotto 6/49 is launched as a national lottery game by the Interprov<strong>in</strong>cial Lottery Corporation. First<br />
lottery game where players can choose their own numbers. This will prove to be the most<br />
successful <strong>of</strong> all lottery products.<br />
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