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Casinos> 2007
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Canadian Problem Gambling Survey Planned
Was British Columbia study initiative spurred by recent
reports from provincial casinos?
The provincial government of British Columbia is commissioning
a new study on problem gambling, a week after news reports that
casino employees often encounter distressed gamblers, and some who
are aggressive or threatening at casinos in the region.
CBC News reported that a spokesman announced: "A proposal
call has been issued for a contractor to survey the prevalence of
problem gambling, to compare it to other jurisdictions and recommend
ways to address the problems.
"The last survey of its kind - carried out several years ago
- showed 4.6 percent of the British Columbia population could be
considered problem gamblers. Since then, legal gambling opportunities
in the province have grown, with more places to play slot machines
and more lotteries available online...," he said.
The action, coming so soon after a major news story on the plight
of problem gamblers and the reaction to them of casino employees
(see previous InfoPowa report), begs the question is the survey
a consequence of the problem being highlighted by the media.
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