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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HORSE RACING<br />
Horse rac<strong>in</strong>g is the one form <strong>of</strong> legal <strong>gambl<strong>in</strong>g</strong> not directly regulated by AGLC. Rather, it is selfregulated<br />
by Horse Rac<strong>in</strong>g Alberta (HRA). HRA is a private non-pr<strong>of</strong>it organization governed by<br />
a Board membership from the different horse breed organizations (Thoroughbred,<br />
Standardbred, Quarter Horse), the racetracks, the general public, and the Alberta government<br />
(2 non-vot<strong>in</strong>g members). The mandate <strong>of</strong> HRA is established through the 1996 Alberta Rac<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Corporation Act. HRA is expected to: govern, direct, control, regulate, manage, and promote<br />
horse rac<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> any or all <strong>of</strong> its forms; to protect the health, safety, and welfare <strong>of</strong> racehorses,<br />
rac<strong>in</strong>g participants and rac<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong>ficials; and to safeguard the <strong>in</strong>terests <strong>of</strong> the general public.<br />
Although it is largely a self-regulated private <strong>in</strong>dustry, the prov<strong>in</strong>cial government is a ‘partner’,<br />
by virtue <strong>of</strong> its Board membership; the fact that HRA provides the Alberta government with<br />
regular updates <strong>of</strong> its operations via annual reports, operat<strong>in</strong>g and capital budgets, and 3 year<br />
bus<strong>in</strong>ess plans; and because it receives most <strong>of</strong> its fund<strong>in</strong>g from the prov<strong>in</strong>cial government<br />
(prov<strong>in</strong>cial government directs 51.7% <strong>of</strong> net slot revenue at racetracks to HRA and another 15%<br />
to the host racetrack).<br />
The Crim<strong>in</strong>al Code <strong>of</strong> Canada requires that parimutuel bett<strong>in</strong>g be regulated by the federal<br />
department <strong>of</strong> agriculture. The Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency (CPMA) is the arm <strong>of</strong> Agriculture<br />
and Agri-Food Canada that currently serves this function. This agency is directly funded<br />
through a levy <strong>of</strong> 0.8% on each bet placed.<br />
There are 3 types <strong>of</strong> horserac<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Alberta: Thoroughbred Rac<strong>in</strong>g (jockey-ridden horses on oval<br />
tracks), Standardbred/Harness Rac<strong>in</strong>g (jockey operates from a sulky beh<strong>in</strong>d the horse on an<br />
oval track), and Quarter Horse Rac<strong>in</strong>g (jockey-ridden horses on short straight tracks).<br />
Horse rac<strong>in</strong>g is conducted at ‘A’ tracks that provide at least 100 days <strong>of</strong> live rac<strong>in</strong>g per year<br />
(Northlands Park) and ‘community’ tracks which provide a m<strong>in</strong>imum <strong>of</strong> 50 days <strong>of</strong> rac<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
A summary <strong>of</strong> the availability and provision <strong>of</strong> all forms <strong>of</strong> <strong>gambl<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>in</strong> Alberta <strong>in</strong> 2011 is<br />
presented <strong>in</strong> the next section.<br />
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