FIRST GAMBLING, THEN HEROIN?

MLA Challenges Lotto CEO To Explain VLT-Policy Logic

HALIFAX - The logic that supports government-sanctioned video
gambling could be used to legalize drugs, a Tory backbencher said yesterday.

Atlantic Lotto CEO Michelle Carinci told a legislature committee a
prohibition on VLTs would only drive video gambling underground.

Kings North Conservative MLA Mark Parent noted governments don't
throw up their hands and legalize heroin and cocaine just because
there's a black market.

"I suppose you are in support of the legalization of illicit drugs in
Canada," Parent told Carinci.

Carinci said she doesn't favour legalizing drugs "that are doing harm
to people."

She also doesn't favour making VLTs illegal - even though she's
considering warning labels to show Atlantic Lotto games are addictive.

Carinci said a ban on VLTs would not stop gambling. It would just
move out of the reach of government regulation, and profits would be
lost to provinces. Addicted gamblers would get less help, she said.

Parent said a ban on VLTs would not mean a prohibition on gambling.
Government could keep "less toxic" forms.

Machines in pubs

Richmond Liberal MLA Michel Samson said the number of people using
illegal VLTs would be "minuscule" compared to the number who play
today, when every neighbourhood pub has machines.

Carinci said governments in Atlantic Canada put her corporation in
charge of video gambling in the 1990s in an effort to replace
unregulated "grey machines."

"What regulated gaming does is allow folks who have problems not to
be in the closet or underground," Carinci said. "It allows us to be
able to provide treatments and opportunities for those individuals
who may be affected or at risk, who may be prone to be involved in an
activity, whether it is regulated or unregulated."

Samson said he doesn't believe Atlantic Lotto got into the VLT
business as a favour to gamblers: "I find it amusing that regulated
gambling is to help problem gambling."

Regulated gambling has been a huge boost to government revenue. Nova
Scotia tripled its VLTs after the government took over in 1993.