Sunday, January 28, 2007

With only about a month to go before the provincially licensed Chances
Cowichan gaming centre opens its doors for the first time, gambling
addiction experts are wondering how it will affect those who like to take a
chance. "Right now we have no idea how it will affect the population," said
Ian Gartshore, executive director and chief therapist of Shore Counseling
Society. "I don't think it will destroy the community, however, those
already struggling to stay within their limits will find it harder to do
that. "No one really knows what will happen." That includes the provincial
government, which is currently conducting a multi-year gambling study
involving four lower mainland communities - Surrey, Vancouver, Langley and
Langley Township - with new gaming venues. These facilities are full-blown
casinos, unlike Duncan's gaming centre which is slated to open March 2 and
will feature a large, 350-seat bingo hall and 75 slot machines. While the
results of the study won't be released until the spring, some initial data
has been. In the Langleys, new admissions for problem gambling treatment
increased after the Cascades gaming venue was introduced. The study has not
established a direct correlation between the new gambling joints and the
increased number of betting addicts, but the government does know problem
gambling is becoming more profound in B.C. The Problem Gambling Help Line
took approximately 5,830 calls specifically related to gambling last year -
a 45 per cent increase over the previous year. Across the province, the
number of clients admitted for treatment increased by 25 per cent in the
same time period. And the total number of calls to the Help Line and the
number of clients referred to counseling services has increased ten-fold
since 2000. That has happened while casinos and all three levels of
government cashed in big time. Casino net income for all of B.C. in 2004/05
was $515 million.
Of that amount, $457 million was allocated to the provincial government, $53
million to local host governments and the balance to the feds. B.C.'s Gaming
Policy and Enforcement branch kicks in about $4-million to help gamblers
overcome their habits. Based on provincial numbers, about 2,000 Valley
residents may be problem gamblers who dabble in bingo halls, casinos,
Internet gaming sites, card games, lottery tickets and even the stock market
to get their fix.

On the plus side of the gambling coin, the new 16,200 square-foot building
built by Cowichan Tribes on reserve land will employ about 65 staff and
deliver cash injections into the local economy, including 10 per cent of the
revenue which will go directly to Cowichan Tribes.

The Duncan Dabber Bingo Society which has run the Ink Spot Bingo Hall for
more than 20 years, will be looking after the new gaming centre.

The society is run by 65 non-profit charities, service clubs and sports
teams and has and given more than $20 million to local charities over the
years.

Dave Clark, vice-president of the DDBS, said bingo players dropped about $5
million at the Ink Spot last year.

"A guess is we'll do between 15 and 20 per cent better than that our first
year in the new centre," he said.

The Chances Cowichan gaming centre will be joining other British Columbia
Lottery Corporation-branded gaming centres in Kelowna, Williams Lakes and
Kamloops.

Provincial government spokespeople did not return repeated calls for
interview requests.

Cowichan/Ladysmith NDP MLA Doug Routley said he hopes the good generated by
the new gaming centre will be enough to offset any bad in this, one of the
poorest ridings in Western Canada.

"I have trouble condemning the place because I hope there's enough economic
development so people can have the right opportunities," he said.

"Yes, it's here now and we need to examine how we can make the economic
impact as positive as we can and be sure to make the negative social impacts
as benign as we can."

One of those negatives could be crime.

In Richmond yesterday, cops were investigating crimes where women were
followed from the River Rock casino and robbed at gunpoint for their cash
and casino chips.

"Now, they have to re-examine their security measures around that casino and
we have to investigate those aspects and address them before they become a
problem here," Routley said.

But Clark said those issues have already been looked after.

"We'll have lots of lighting around the parking area and security people on
site who will walk you to your car if you want."

Gartshore said he also sees a positive side to the new gaming centre.

"The forestry and fishing industries haven't been great and tourism isn't
exactly hopping," he said.

"And people who do like to gamble won't have to drive so far to do it, but
nobody really knows what will happen, when it might cross the line from
entertainment to a problem."