Canada: Tackling Problem-Gambling Head On

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Canada has been one of the most liberal countries when it comes to human rights. From laws favouring the LGBT community to legalising marijuana, it comes as no surprise that gambling is also legal in the country. However, gaming is regulated, and thus there has been a steady rise in revenue for the government from authorised gambling properties over the last few years.

Unfortunately, as is the case with most businesses, there is a flip side to legalising casinos. The laws of the country are such that each province has the right to decide on their respective gambling laws. These laws differ partially, sometimes based on the age at which an individual can play to the overall requirements for a company to start a casino. This freedom to play has led to some of the biggest online wins but also recently led to cases of problem-gambling that has made the government look up and tackle these issues head-on. The government has received support and at times pressure from various communities and non-government groups who want to see proactive measures taken to solve these issues.

One of the initial measures taken by the Canadian government was to shut down all illegal online casinos. Organisations need to get licences from provincial governing bodies to become legitimate online casinos. There are those who continue to operate without any proper authorisation, and the government has been proactive in taking these sites down as well as suing and fining them. Moreover, the authorities have taken a strong stand against giving licenses to just about anyone.

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Still, when it comes to individuals, a rise in problem gambling among Canada’s aged has been seen lately. Part of this is a result of the “free bus” service that many casinos operate from cities. With free transportation and deals on offer, quite a few aged pensioners have made it a weekly habit of gambling. Local NGOs are now working with governments to tackle this issue, especially asking them to ban advertisements that attract certain ethnicities.

In addition to “responsible gambling” advertisements, Canada also has a self-exclusion program in play. This way, if a gambler on the list is in a casino, they are escorted out and can even be fined for trespassing. Not always successful, recent advancements in technology have led to self-exclusion participants undergo facial recognition. This will help detect the individuals in casinos, and better action can thus be taken to keep them out. Another step is to take self-exclusion participants off mailing lists. This is not to tempt them with offers and thus help them stay away from gambling.

The fact remains that various provincial governments are taking problem-gambling seriously. British Columbia has “GameSense” advisors at casinos who can answer all queries about gambling and odds truthfully. Similarly, there are 24-hour multi-lingual hotlines to answer any questions about gaming. These are especially helpful for those who play on online casinos. However, this is an uphill battle. Flaws in self-exclusion schemes have been witnessed before in the UK, and it is only after taking a serious approach towards helping those with issues, can governments feel safe about their gambling institutions.

Canada has always had the benefit of its people in mind. However, they have brought about changes in laws only after careful consideration. Many studies are being done with the help of government money to understand problem-gambling and the best ways to overcome it. It might take some time, but with a positive attitude and the will to help, Canada should be able to overcome this hurdle without taking any drastic measures.