Gaming News

Saskatchewan minister gauges Nova Scotia VLT cuts

REGINA, Saskatchewan -- As reported by the Saskatoon Star Phoenix: "Saskatchewan's liquor and gaming minister, Dan D'Autremont, is in Nova Scotia this week, gauging the impact of that province's nation-leading efforts to cut video lottery terminals (VLTs).

"In 2006, Nova Scotia launched an initiative to reduce VLT numbers by 1,000 machines, about one-third of the total.

"The Atlantic province also introduced a midnight cut-off time for VLT use, slowed the rate of play and removed the machines' stop buttons, which give gamblers an unwarranted sense of control.

"...'I want to talk to them about what kind of impact that has had, what kind of impact financially both for government and for the people working in the industry and what kind of impact has that had on gaming addictions,' D'Autremont, minister responsible for the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority, said after arriving in Nova Scotia on Wednesday.

"...Information gathered will be grist for the mill as the province looks at gaming issues, although D'Autremont isn't guaranteeing changes will be made.

"...The issue of VLTs, and the similar slot machines located in the province's seven casinos, is one of the more intractable political problems in Saskatchewan.

"With $175 million from VLT revenue going to the province in 2006-07 and $36 million in profits going to the hotels and bars that are on-site operators, there is a significant financial dependency on gaming revenue.

"With five First Nations-run casinos currently operating and another on the way in Swift Current, there are also sensitive jurisdictional issues..."

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