The government of the Canadian Atlantic province of Prince Edward Island is encouraging the Atlantic Lottery Corp. (ALC) to move forward to operate an online casino.
ALC says two independent reviews indicate there will be no significant impact on problem gamblers. The reviews, it said in an email, “provided recommendations and best practices guiding the development of this product and related responsible gambling features. Shareholders were informed these reviews had been conducted.”
The reviews “found no substantial evidence that the introduction of online casino gambling would have a measurable impact on vulnerable players, nor that problem gambling has become more prevalent in other Canadian jurisdictions where online casino games are already available.”
P.E.I. Finance Minister Darlene Compton, who also heads the Lotteries Commission that regulates gaming, told CBC News, “One reason that we have an Atlantic Lottery Corp. is so that they can, in turn, do all the studies that are needed to ensure that the provinces are entering into any kind of agreement in a safe and regulated way. So the onus is on ALC to ensure that consultation is done, and it has been done for this product.”
ALC launched an online casino in the Atlantic province of New Brunswick in August.
Compton said the Covid-19 pandemic has led some residents to illegal offshore gaming sites. It is estimated that the Atlantic provinces wager $100 million a year at such sites. She told CBC, “If people are doing it, we need to ensure that it’s regulated and that we can put all those protections in place to ensure Islanders are doing it in a safe way.” There’s no way to protect consumers at offshore sites or regulate illegal activities, she added.
The government has come under criticism by opposition members who say online gaming will encourage addiction and hurt families who can’t afford to lose money.
Green Party member Trish Altass said, “There are a lot of things that you can purchase online if you have a credit card. It doesn’t mean that the government should be promoting or profiting off of all of them.”
