Liberals: NDP Gambling Reports Only Tell Half The Story
(Halifax, NS) Liberal gaming critic Leo Glavine says a pair of government reports released today on the status of gambling in Nova Scotia fail to show the full picture when it comes to the true cost of the industry to the province. “This is really about what’s not being said in those reports - Minister Steele and Minister More have purposely neglected to look at the socio-economic impact of gambling in Nova Scotia,” explains Glavine. “Without that analysis and without Nova Scotians understanding the real costs, these reports are incomplete. The NDP are attempting to turn a blind eye to this issue.”
With VLT profits remaining flat, Glavine believes that more focus should have been on problem gamblers and a breakdown of their spending habits. He’s concerned that the province benefitted from increased betting by those who struggle with gambling.
“In the midst of an economic downturn in which people had less disposable income, it’s the gambling addict that keeps VLT profits steady despite the financial crunch,” says Glavine. “Less people were gambling, but it appears that those with a problem spent more.”
The Liberal MLA for Kings West says the NDP government blocked the release of a socio-economic report earlier this year and have done nothing since to replace it.
“Where do our responsible gaming initiatives fit in all this? Where is the data that Health Promotion and Protection should be collecting? We need to see and clearly understand the other side of the gambling ledger before we move forward.”
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