Problem-gambling funding cut by $2.4 million

By Lindsay Kines, Times ColonistSeptember 27, 2009 5:13 AM

The B.C. government has slashed $2.4 million from a program that deters and treats problem gamblers, even as the province oversees a massive increase in Internet betting -- one of the most addictive forms of gambling. The Liberals have cut the budget for the Responsible Gambling Strategy and the Problem Gambling Program by 34 per cent this year, from $7 million to $4.6 Housing Minister Rich Coleman, who is responsible for gambling, was unavailable for comment. But in an e-mail to the Times Colonist, his ministry stated that it will maintain "core services," including a 24-hour help line, clinical counsellors and responsible gambling officers in casinos.

"We remain committed to reducing problem gambling and the impacts of excessive gambling," the statement said. The cut, however, comes at the same time that the government is allowing people to wager more money over the Internet -- something the government's own research The B.C. Lottery Corporation announced last month that gamblers can now bet $9,999 a week on its PlayNow Internet site -- more than 80 times the previous limit of $120.The corporation expects to turn a nearly $50-million profit on Internet gambling alone over the next three years, documents show.

NDP critic Shane Simpson condemned the government yesterday for cutting supports to problem gamblers at a time when they're likely creating more of them."It's irresponsible, if not immoral, for our government to be looking to expand gambling in such a risky area when they know -- they have to know -- this is going to hurt some of our most vulnerable people," he said. "While the government may be desperate for revenue, you don't go and find that revenue on the backs of your most vulnerable citizens and in this case it's problem gamblers."

The province's Problem Gambling Prevalence Study, released last year, showed that more than one in four Internet gamblers have a problem. It also found that the number of British Columbians with a severe gambling addiction had more than doubled in five years.The study estimated that 31,000 British Columbians have a severe problem, and another 128,000 have a moderate one -- the third-highest rate of problem gambling among Canada's provinces.

The B.C. Liberals' pursuit of gambling revenue runs contrary to their 2001 election promise to stop the expansion of gambling, which has "increased gambling addiction and put new strains on families."When he was still in Opposition, Premier Gordon Campbell said: "I want to build an economy based on winners, not losers, and gambling is always based on losers. The only way government makes money on gambling is because you lose it."