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1/7/2010:
Que. in gambling addiction treatment deal: report
By CBC News January 7, 2010
http://license.icopyright.net/user/viewFreeUse.act?fuid=NjQzMzI3Nw%3D%3D
A settlement may be in the works between the Quebec government and Loto-Québec in a legal battle over the cost of treating people with gambling addiction, according to a published report.
A settlement may be in the works between the Quebec government and Loto-Québec in a legal battle over the cost of treating people with gambling addiction, according to a published report.
La Presse said Thursday that the provincial government has agreed to reimburse treatment costs for problem gamblers between 1994 and 2002.
The agreement reportedly settles the class action lawsuit brought against Loto-Québec in 2001.
The case went to court in 2008 and was supposed to wrap up in the next couple of months.
The lawsuit sought about $1 billion in damages.
The settlement will reportedly cost the provincial government around $50 million
No reader comments yet - add yours See related articles: Addiction and Recovery, Canada, Litigation 
bill clark1/7/2010:
Que. in gambling addiction treatment deal: report
By CBC News January 7, 2010
http://license.icopyright.net/user/viewFreeUse.act?fuid=NjQzMzI3Nw%3D%3D
A settlement may be in the works between the Quebec government and Loto-Québec in a legal battle over the cost of treating people with gambling addiction, according to a published report.
A settlement may be in the works between the Quebec government and Loto-Québec in a legal battle over the cost of treating people with gambling addiction, according to a published report.
La Presse said Thursday that the provincial government has agreed to reimburse treatment costs for problem gamblers between 1994 and 2002.
The agreement reportedly settles the class action lawsuit brought against Loto-Québec in 2001.
The case went to court in 2008 and was supposed to wrap up in the next couple of months.
The lawsuit sought about $1 billion in damages.
The settlement will reportedly cost the provincial government around $50 million
No reader comments yet - add yours See related articles: Addiction and Recovery, Canada, Litigation
bill clark12/23/2009: OLG up for sale?
Betting is on the OLG to be shopped around
“Liberals will sign deal with banks to access value of lottery agency.”
The Liberal government will sign a $200,000 deal with two investment banks within days to do “preliminary research” on privatizing all or part of the problem-prone Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, the Star has learned.
While Bay Street has been tantalized by millions in lucrative commissions from the possible sale of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario, Hydro One, and Ontario Power Generation, informed sources say the provincial lottery monopoly is the main public asset in play.
Premier Dalton McGuinty is “displeased” by the performance of the troubled gambling agency, which makes it an easy target for sale to alleviate some of the province’s record $24.7 billion deficit.
I find it interesting, the words price or cost are not in the poli-speak. Value is a strange word to use.
We hear conflicting numbers from OLG.
They are always swift to publish how much many dollars they give back to a community, how much they buy, how many jobs are created. We never hear how many dollars leave the community, we don’t hear how many jobs are lost to support new gambling jobs. We continuously hear “only 1 % of people are affected.”
Yes 1 % is a small number but one percent of Ontarians could well be 120,000 souls, and in this we are even told in 2004, by the head of CAMH, tells the minister of Health that the number is closer to 500 thousand souls in trouble with gambling addiction.
That is a large number, and 5 to ten extra people affected for each gambling addict.
The OLG message is to sell the idea that “less is more”. The more money leaves a community, the better off we are. And a lot of money leaves a community. A lot of money leaves the country.
Well, the other item to flog is the LCBO. I call it the “Liquor Promotion Board of Ontario”.
In my 40 plus years in community pharmacy, I have to ask if a more destructive poison exists.
4 % of all deaths are alchohol related. CAMH numbers.
A direct cost of close to 500 dollars for every soul in Ontario, not to mention the serious side effects.
We won’t even mention tobacco addiction. So we are left with alcohol addiction, and gambling addiction, we are selling off the very products that contribute the most costs to what we call a health system.
OUR own crown corporations, convert tax paying citizens into service needy addicts. Alcohol and gambling may well be two 2 worst products for addiction and fatal consequences, and the most heavily advertised and promoted. Can any society really afford this insanity ? Can we afford to lose complete control, or will we really sit down and look at value, costs, consequences, and the destructive direction we are heading. Somewhere, duty of care ?
The lottery corporation contributes $1.8 billion a year to provincial coffers and has a book value of $3.4 billion – including $2.4 billion in property, facilities and equipment.
…”If all we want is a revenue stream (from gambling proceeds) then why can’t we let someone else run it? It’s painfully evident that the model created 10 to 15 years ago has had its day,” said a Liberal.
12/17/2009: OLG Profit comes from citizen losses
Wow! Wednesday December 2nd, 2009 there is a full half page colour advertisement OLG again.
“We’re not required to conduct 90,000 tests on our slot machines.
But we do it anyway“.
Well, when the slots reach the customer, we find out if they work.
A Toronto newspaper under “FOI” (Freedom on Information Act) published the results of the top 10 slots at Woodbine Racetracks in Toronto.
The slots really work. I mean, really.
The top slot pulled in $ 701,117, but it took 294 visits in a 12 month period. This means a loss of $ 2400 per visit.
The # 2 player only visited 92 times but his loss was $ 635,921 for an average loss of 6913 dollars per visit. (top loss/visit)
The # 3 on the list fed in 620,884 dollars or 149 sessions, for an average loss of 4167 dollars per visit.
The top 10 “players“, lost a total of 4,665,000 dollars over the 12 month period August 1, 2008 to July 31 2009. or, an total of 1608 visits.
So, the average visits to Woodbine were 161 times in the year.
The total losses don‘t work out because there are perks, and comps, and other incentives, and we are not told how much these convert to increase the player loss.
If we relate to the Hamilton player who gambled over $ 600,000, of his mothers money, and OLG acknowledged 130,000 dollars in comps over a 10 year period. Prorated to nearly the 5 million dollars for the top 10 slot players losses at Woodbine, this might add up to another one million dollars paid to keep their addiction alive and well.
If we call these visits “sessions or $E$$ION$“, with the help of ’attends’, (Depends) the adult type diapers, some sessions go to 5 hours, some go to 30 hours. Some play one single slot at a time, some play 2 slots, and I have seen many players managing 3 slots all at once, with no let up in speed or feed time.
Regardless, 160 plus visits , and a loss rate per visit close to 4000 dollars prompts handsome rewards. Well, how does one afford this high loss level ? He nips out at noon, and robs a handy bank. Maybe 23 of them. This exchange robber got 6 years in prison for his addiction. Who pays for this?
Not the OLG. The public pays.
By the way. One test missing was the addictive test.
The last line of the OLG half page ad states:
“Its not just a game to us.”
City of Toronto memo: Revenue sharing fairness of Woodbine Slots December 19, 2009 (.pdf)
Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation - wiki
1 reader comment - add yours See related articles: Canada, Gambling Watch Canada Network Newsletter, General 
Bill Clark11/27/2009: Johannes DeViet 1924-2009
Gambling Watch Global contributor Johannes DeViet died peacefully in London Ontario, November 25th after a short illness.
Johannes was the husband of the late Erica DeViet, father of Tonny, John, Leona (Piet), Paul (Aina), Jane, Benita (Ken), and Marcella, 10 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be at First Christian Reformed Church, 531 Talbot St., London, on Friday November 27 from 5-7 PM, funeral service to follow.
Our condolences go out to his family, with our gratitude for his dedicated service and friendship.
Now cracks a noble heart. Good-night sweet prince, And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.
No reader comments yet - add yours See related articles: Gambling Watch Canada Network Newsletter, General 
Administrator10/23/2009: Letter to North Bay Nugget
Re:The Exchange Bandit: Crown wants accused bank robber to repay $33,000,Nugget, Oct. 14 (article not available online)
Thank you for a great article.
There was no mention of gaming or problem gamblers. You just told it like it was. Gambling addiction, and serving an addiction leads to crime, and on and on. Happily in this case it did not end in suicide, as is often the only way out.
Addictions don’t choose and gambling has chosen all kinds of people. No one is immune.
California, close to the same population as Canada, reports some 32,000 gambling addicts in prisons and this could prorate Ontario to 12,000 addicted gamblers in jail.
Even if it was only 1,000, and a prison cost of $100,000 each per year, comes out to a cost of $100 million a year.
With addicted gamblers approaching 450,000 in Ontario (2004 number) also means a high suicide risk, and the Canada Safety Council wrote each premier regarding the high risk for gamblers.
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. still has a lot to answer for, and the spinoff crime costs, jail costs, social costs, certainly do not add up to any profit.
OLG and gambling may well be the authors of their own misfortune.
To convert tax-paying citizens to service-needy addicts does not seem quite right.
Duty of care?
W. Clark
North Bay
10/18/2009: Award winning Hamilton Spectator reporter writes terrific series on gambling
Steve Buist a reporter with The Hamilton Spectator has a must read series on gambling, addiction, sports stars and game throwing. His articles are full of facts without minimizing the effect gambling has on individuals.
Going all in
September 12, 2009
http://thespec.com/printArticle/633285
Hooked
September 14, 2009
From playmakers to pawns
September 15, 2009
http://thespec.com/beatenbytheodds/article/633887
The Invisible barricade
September 16, 2009
http://thespec.com/sections/beatenbytheodds/article/634302
9/30/2009: Johannes Deviet
For 12 years Gambling Watch Global Ontario and Gambling Watch Canada has been run by a couple of faithful volunteers who picked up a challenge from the social arm of a Canadian denomination to educate and inform the public about the various issues surrounding gambling.
One of the few people to step up was Johannes Deviet.
Johannes is a holocaust survivor orphaned at the age of five Dutch, lived in Holland, and was pressed into service by the Germans around age 16. After WWII, he joined Dutch army, and was sent to Indonesia. After his service he came to Canada and made a life for himself. (thank you for the correction on Johannes early life - Admin)
He raised a family and spent his retirement giving freely to others.
With deep passion and keen intellect he has worked to inform thousands of people around the world about the harm of gambling to government and citizens.
Having raised his family, and being active in his local community, he took up the challenge and responsibility of educating, watching and warning of the dangers of gambling, as only a dedicated volunteer can.
Johannes has touched the lives of countless people.
Johannes spoke three languages, English is not his first and he worked hard at writing well.
He knew he could be obsessive about his calling, and was careful to be quick with kindness and gracious toward his fellow volunteers, and was ruefully apologetic when he believed he could do more.
Johannes was always respectful to those who contacted him, humbly and innocently unaware of how copious and valuable his knowledge was.
He taught himself to use a computer, and along with other volunteers who have received no financial support and little encouragement, threw himself into developing a gambling watch newsletter which went to politicians, gambling research experts, churches and concerned citizens.
It was unique, ahead of it’s time and timely.
When Gambling Watch Global was set up, it was our privilege and honour to carry his newsletter and his commentary.
The past several months Johannes health has been deteriorating.
A few months ago he stopped what had been an urgent call and passionate joy in his life.
The arduous work of his newsletter was too much for him, and at age 84, ill and weary, he knew it was time to lay it down. He ended his newsletter as he began it. With dignity.
Johannes is now in hospital.
As fellow volunteers and friends we want to honour and applaud his dedication and faithfulness.
It has been a privilege to work with him, in his most stressed and overwhelmed moments, he was never too busy to reach out to anyone needing his expertise.
He has taught us a great deal about staying the course and our hearts go out to his family.
As his voice stills, we want to say thank you Johannes.
We call out well done, you have been a tenacious advocate, a steady and loyal friend, and example of a compassionate and engaged citizen. We have been honoured and proud to have walked with you.
Go in peace Johannes, thank you for giving all of us your all.
No reader comments yet - add yours See related articles: Activism, Gambling Watch Canada Network Newsletter, General
Administrator9/12/2009: Ousted OLG CEO gives notice to government on plan to sue
Kelly McDougald served the government with notice on Thursday that she intends to launch a wrongful dismissal suit against the government.
This was the first time that the McGuinty government has fired the CEO of one of its agencies with cause since taking power six years ago. Globe & Mail
Update: McDougald is looking for a windfall of 9 million dollars for severe and unjustified the actions of the government. This case will drag on for years. She was appointed to clean up the OLG, acknowledges some of the expenses of the agency under her watch were ‘indeed inappropriate’.
9/1/2009: No happy dance at OLG
The entire board of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. (OLG) resigned Monday. They were replaced temporarily by provincial civil servants. Their first act involved the firing of Kelly McDougald, the agency’s CEO.
“I am disappointed with what has been brought to my attention,” Finance Minister Dwight Duncan told a news conference on Monday. “The expenses are a symptom of a much larger problem.”
McDougald was “dismissed with cause,” Duncan said and therefore will not receive a severance package. Former board chair Michael Gough said he wasn’t asked to quit, but did offer his resignation last Thursday.
The Liberals publicly released two years worth of expenses that were filed by OLG board members. They include:
- gym memberships worth $250
- Weight Watchers memberships
- club link golf fees
- a $1,500 bar tab at a $3,700 dinner for 38 people
- a $500 nanny fee so that a vice-president member could attend meetings, an amount since repaid
The OLG acknowledged Monday that the spending was unacceptable for a public agency. CTV
