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Although slot machines are problematic in there temptation of problem gamblers, they are not nearly as problematic as video lottery terminals.  At least that seems to be the case in Alberta, Canada. 

According to the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission video lottery terminals are the lead problem for their clients with problem gambling.  Slot machines actually come second.  The reason is unclear, but it could be due to the fact that slot machines are located in casinos and video lottery terminals are usually found in bars and pubs.

Major casinos tend to have more responsible gambling measures in place than are typically found in bars.  What ever the reason, video lottery terminals are more tempting to problem gamblers that slot machines in Alberta even though slot machines out number them by more than twice as much.  Back in 1996 the Alberta government capped video lottery terminals at 6,000.  The number of slot machines in Alberta is exactly 12,386 and the government has no designs on placing a cap on them as yet.

“Slot machines, if they're gonna be someplace, should be at a casino and not every bar, every outlet ... like the VLTs are, so at least someone has to get in the car, put their mind to it and drive there and then sink their money into the one-armed bandit,” said Kent Hehr, a liberal critic.

“At the same time, I see these machines being a break-even at best.”

Although the Alberta government does not wish to place a cap on slot machines, they are performing a study of the gambling market before licensing any more slot machines in an effort to avoid over saturating the market.

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