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Saskatchewan Has Twice as Many Problem Gamblers

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan – As reported by the Regina Ledger-Post: "There are more than twice as many problem gamblers in Saskatchewan as there are in the rest of the country, according to Statistics Canada.

"The latest StatsCan figures show among Saskatchewan gamblers, an estimated 1.1 per cent of them are considered problem or pathological gamblers.

"The national average is 0.5 per cent.

"Those numbers don't surprise Darwin Seed, the spokesperson for Citizens for a Quality Saskatoon, a group that is opposed to casino expansion in the area.

"…Seed says the costs of addiction services and other social programs are only eating into the record-breaking profits posted this year by the province and the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA).

"…Saskatchewan has two government-run casinos and four that are run by SIGA, in addition to Prairieland Park Corporation's Emerald Casino in Saskatoon.

"A fifth SIGA casino is being proposed for Whitecap Dakota Sioux First Nation, outside of Saskatoon.

"But Robert Markosky of the province's problem gambling unit doesn't agree that gambling is necessarily higher in Saskatchewan than in other provinces.

"…Using the index, an estimated 1.2 per cent of Saskatchewan's gamblers are pathological and 4.7 per cent are deemed moderate risk gamblers, and Markosky says those numbers are about on par with the rest of the country, when factoring in the margin of error…"

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