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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REGULATORY AND ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY<br />
The ma<strong>in</strong> historical changes <strong>in</strong> the regulation, organization, and provision <strong>of</strong> legal <strong>gambl<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>in</strong><br />
Alberta are as follows:<br />
1869 -<br />
1892<br />
The foundational federal laws govern<strong>in</strong>g <strong>gambl<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>in</strong> Canada are established, culm<strong>in</strong>at<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the 1892<br />
Crim<strong>in</strong>al Code. These laws prohibit all forms <strong>of</strong> <strong>gambl<strong>in</strong>g</strong> with the exception <strong>of</strong> social <strong>gambl<strong>in</strong>g</strong><br />
between <strong>in</strong>dividuals, small raffles for charitable purposes, and horse race bett<strong>in</strong>g that occurs at the<br />
track.<br />
1910 Crim<strong>in</strong>al Code <strong>in</strong>troduces detailed <strong>in</strong>formation on how pari-mutuel horse race bett<strong>in</strong>g should operate<br />
and designates the federal M<strong>in</strong>istry <strong>of</strong> Agriculture as the overseer <strong>of</strong> this bett<strong>in</strong>g system.<br />
1925 Crim<strong>in</strong>al Code amended to allow ‘lottery schemes’ at agricultural fairs and exhibitions.<br />
1969 Crim<strong>in</strong>al Code amended to permit lottery schemes by the federal or prov<strong>in</strong>cial governments.<br />
Prov<strong>in</strong>cial governments, <strong>in</strong> turn, could issue a gam<strong>in</strong>g licence to charitable or religious organizations,<br />
agricultural fairs or exhibitions, or any <strong>in</strong>dividual.<br />
1973 All Alberta <strong>gambl<strong>in</strong>g</strong> licenc<strong>in</strong>g is transferred to the newly created Lotteries Licens<strong>in</strong>g Section <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Attorney General’s Department.<br />
1974 Western Canada Lottery Foundation (WCLF) is formed by the prov<strong>in</strong>ces <strong>of</strong> British Columbia, Alberta,<br />
Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, to beg<strong>in</strong> provid<strong>in</strong>g prov<strong>in</strong>cial lottery tickets.<br />
1976 Alberta Attorney General creates the Gam<strong>in</strong>g Control Branch to provide more comprehensive<br />
regulation <strong>of</strong> <strong>gambl<strong>in</strong>g</strong> (replac<strong>in</strong>g the Lotteries Licens<strong>in</strong>g unit) and to better handle the large number<br />
<strong>of</strong> new cas<strong>in</strong>o event applications from charities.<br />
1979 The federal government withdraws from <strong>of</strong>fer<strong>in</strong>g lottery schemes <strong>in</strong> return for $24 million annually<br />
from the prov<strong>in</strong>ces <strong>in</strong>dexed to <strong>in</strong>flation.<br />
1981 The Gam<strong>in</strong>g Control Branch <strong>of</strong> the Attorney General’s <strong>of</strong>fice becomes responsible for adm<strong>in</strong>istration<br />
and enforcement duties, and the new Alberta Gam<strong>in</strong>g Commission becomes responsible for licens<strong>in</strong>g,<br />
appeals, public <strong>in</strong>formation, public consultation and policy recommendations.<br />
1983 Amendment to Crim<strong>in</strong>al Code permits the federal or prov<strong>in</strong>cial governments to accept ‘pool bett<strong>in</strong>g’<br />
on 2 or more sport<strong>in</strong>g events.<br />
1984 Wild Rose Foundation created to provide grants from lottery revenue to volunteer, non-pr<strong>of</strong>it<br />
organizations.<br />
1985 Crim<strong>in</strong>al Code amendment gives exclusive ability to operate ‘lottery schemes’ to the prov<strong>in</strong>ces. This<br />
same legislation limits the conduct and management <strong>of</strong> lottery schemes operated on or through a<br />
computer, video device or slot mach<strong>in</strong>e just to prov<strong>in</strong>cial governments.<br />
1989 Crim<strong>in</strong>al Code amended to permit <strong>of</strong>f-track horse race bett<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
Alberta Lottery Fund established with all revenue from lottery schemes now be<strong>in</strong>g deposited <strong>in</strong>to<br />
this fund, with funds to be disbursed for purposes support<strong>in</strong>g recreation or culture or any other<br />
purpose the M<strong>in</strong>ister considers be<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the public <strong>in</strong>terest. In practice, the bulk <strong>of</strong> this revenue<br />
goes to government m<strong>in</strong>istries and the rest goes to various grant<strong>in</strong>g agencies and foundations.<br />
1991 All <strong>gambl<strong>in</strong>g</strong>-related agencies <strong>in</strong> the prov<strong>in</strong>ce fall under the responsibility <strong>of</strong> the Attorney General<br />
(Alberta Lotteries, WCLC-Alberta Division, Alberta Gam<strong>in</strong>g Commission).<br />
1995 All prov<strong>in</strong>cial <strong>gambl<strong>in</strong>g</strong> activities, with the exception <strong>of</strong> horse rac<strong>in</strong>g, are brought under the<br />
management <strong>of</strong> the new Alberta Gam<strong>in</strong>g and Liquor Commission (AGLC) (an amalgamation <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Alberta Gam<strong>in</strong>g Commission, Gam<strong>in</strong>g Control Branch, Alberta Lotteries, and Alberta Liquor Control<br />
Board).<br />
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