Home

A simple look at number shows that the government of Alberta Canada has not been exactly unbiased when it comes to slot machines and the Video Lottery Terminals.  Over the last 14 years, the number of slot machines in the province has continued to grow while the number of video lottery terminals has remained capped at 6,000. 

The limit for video lottery terminals was set back in 1996.  Around the same time slot machines were introduced to the province and to this day no number has been set on how much are allowed in operation.  According to the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission, Alberta currently has 12,386 slot machines in operation at various venues across the province.

Government coffers and charities have benefited from the billions of dollars generated by the increase in slot machines.  It is hard to criticize slot machines when they are producing that sort of turn out.  Even gambling opponents must admit to preferring slot machines in casinos over the video lottery machines that linger in the corners of local bars.  However there is little difference between slot machines and video lottery terminals when it comes to tempting problem gamblers.

Gary Smith, a veteran researcher with the Alberta Gaming Research Institute, theorizes that the Alberta government has an addiction of their own to slot machines. 

“I think they just did it to recover the lost revenue over capping the VLTs,” said Smith.

“The government (officials) are not disinterested bystanders, which they should be. If you're regulating something, you shouldn't have a stake in it, as well.”
 

Casino News