B.C. Rakes in Gambling Revenue

BRITISH COLUMBIA – As reported by the CBC: "B.C.'s minister responsible for gaming says the province is not addicted to gambling revenues.

"The province rakes in hundreds of millions of dollars from gambling revenues each year, and the amount keeps rising.

"Lotteries, bingo and other games are expected to bring in $950 million this year. Within the next two years, the government expects gaming to generate more than $1 billion for provincial coffers.

"John Les, the minister responsible for gambling, says that despite the huge gaming revenue, he doesn't think the province is addicted to the revenue.

"…B.C.'s Lottery Corporation continues to expand the gambling business in the province. Earlier this week, it announced that people can now buy lottery tickets online, and said the provincial limit on the number of slot machines has been lifted.

"It's an about-face for a government party that promised to stop gambling expansion when it formed the opposition in the provincial legislature. In 1998, Gordon Campbell said the social costs of gambling were too high to pay…"