What is of consequence is the number of people gambling who can neither afford it nor easily stop. Although the percentage of such people is small, it is nonetheless alarming that the opportunity to overindulge is becoming much easier. No longer does one have to make the trek to a casino. In essence, the casino is brought to you. Temptation is amplified.
Of course, governments have long been involved in imposing what is often described as a tax on idiots. Think of the array of lotteries available for purchase at your nearest convenience store or Shoppers Drug Mart. (Oh, how many times have I waited in increasingly long queues at the checkout while some old parties ditheringly deliberate about what ticket(s) to purchase after winning $10 - the announcement "Winner! Gagnon! strikes fear and loathing in me.)
But I digress.
On April 4, what is euphemistically called iGaming Market went live. Now, those who are so inclined can gamble away their savings knowing they are protected from shady operators:
To play with confidence knowing their money and information is subject to robust consumer protection measures, players in Ontario just need to look for the iGO logo on an operator’s site.
Operators who have successfully been registered by the AGCO and have executed an Operating Agreement with iGO have met rigorous standards of game integrity, fairness, player protections, and social responsibility [?], enabling players to play with confidence.
The apparent benevolence of Doug Ford's government in promoting this is undoubtedly welcome news to many. It is now easy to place a plethora of wagers on sports, play the slots, baccarat. etc. However, checking one site, BetMGM, I could find nothing that suggested the social responsibility cited above by iGO, and everything to induce you to become a member, including free credits!
Interesting, BetMGM is the entity being widely promoted by the 'great one', Wayne Gretzsky.
Full disclosure: Gretzsky has been dead to me since his shameful, full-throated endorsement of Stephen Harper in 2015, despite the fact that the retired hockey player does not live in Canada and is not eligible to vote here. Indeed, it left many wondering about the number of concussions he had sustained during his career.
I can think of no other reason that he would stoop to shilling for the online betting group other than money. But doesn't he already have enough of that?
I doubt that Walter Gretzsky, his late father, would approve of his son's promotion of such a dubious activity. Surely Wayne could find something worthwhile to trumpet rather than prostituting his name and reputation in this manner.
Back in the 70s I did a live radio interview with the head of Gamblers Anonymous. He shocked me when he detailed the techniques chronic gamblers use to "condition" their spouses and families. One ploy was to act distraught and get the spouse to imagine the worst - i.e. losing the family home. Then, when you tell them you're out 10 grand, they're relieved.
ReplyDeleteIt's a disease but it delivers handsome revenue to tapped out governments.
That governments have come to rely on these revenues suggest an unhealthy addiction, Mound. Clearly, it is of no concern to any of them. I remember several years ago the actual physical casinos offered everyone so inclined the option of putting themselves on an exclusion list so they would not be admitted. The only problem was not only the voluntary nature of such a list, but also the fact that they could remove themselves from it whenever the urge struck. I guess that was their version of social responsibility. Here in Ontario, the ubiquitous ads for lotteries usually end with this: "Know your limit and stay within it." That'll do it, eh?
DeleteYou're right, Lorne. It's governments who addicted to gambling. It's their excuse for not raising taxes.
ReplyDeletePandering to people is never a good model of government, Owen, but that's what we are seeing in Ontario as the election draws ever-nearer.
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