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Ontario Finally Releases Gambling Report

"Showing profits of $1.9 billion (US$1.25 billion), the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp.'s 2000-2001 report was tabled Jan. 15, just days after The Canadian Press asked for a copy.

"…Every other lottery and gaming corporation in Canada -- B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, Nova Scotia and the Atlantic Lottery Corporation, which oversees the three other Atlantic provinces -- has already issued annual reports for 2000-2001 and 2001-2002.

"`It's unacceptable,' said Nancy Langille of Ontario's foot-dragging. Langille, spokeswoman for Gambling Watch Network, Ontario, said the elusive annual report is more proof of how the province protects crucial gambling data, including social costs.

"… Such a long delay for a public document blocks public scrutiny of a major source of government revenue, said another gambling policy expert.

"… When first asked on Jan. 10 for a copy, corporation spokeswoman Anne Rappe said the 2000-2001 report had not been publicly released. She said she didn't know what had caused the delay, but said the report was complete and had gone to the political level for approval.

"…Ben Hamilton denied the almost two-year delay was unusual. The number of casinos, racetracks and other facilities required to produce financial statements, combined with the number of offices required to sign off on the report, made it a necessarily lengthy one, he said.

"…The 2000-2001 report shows a stunning surge of more than half a billion dollars in profits from some 5,000 slot machines at 12 racetracks. One-armed bandit lounges were expanded with some controversy the year before to bolster the flagging racing sector.

"Slot revenues from racetracks jumped to $1.04 billion from $363 million in 1999-2000, the report shows.

"Machine gambling has shown to be the most addictive and potentially most damaging form of betting, said Harold Wynne, a Canadian gambling expert in Alberta…"

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