With the possibility of regulating online gambling, the Nova Scotia Provincial Lotteries and Casino Corporation, a Crown-run corporation regulated under the Nova Scotia Gaming Control Act, commissioned a poll focusing on the type of gambling Nova Scotians have engaged in over the past twelve months—in particular, how often provincial residents play online poker and other internet casino games.
Spokeswoman Stacy O’Rourke said since the Responsible Gambling Strategy was adopted in 2011, the lottery corporation has been focused on the effects online casino games may have on residents’ health and well-being, plus economic and general social impacts. However, Michael Samson, a Nova Scotia Minister responsible for the Gaming Control Act, noted online gambling currently is not regulated in Nova Scotia. Therefore, he said, officials first need to collect the necessary data to gain a better understanding of how many and how often Nova Scotians play online poker and other popular casino games.
Samson said once the data is gathered, officials can decide if online gambling should be regulated and how to accomplish that, as well as how to address issues caused by online casino games.
