Alberta gambling: who wins, who loses?
Last Updated: Friday May 1, 2009 | 11:39 AM MT
Gambling provides a steady stream of income for the Alberta government, keeps soccer teams on the field and computers in the classrooms. But it can also ruins lives.
Who are the winners and the losers in our province's relationship with games of chance?
On average, each adult in Alberta spends $886 on gambling every year, the highest amount in the country and $290 more than the Canadian average, according to a report by the Canada West Foundation. The actual losses for individuals can be much higher. An estimated eight per cent of Albertans or 135,000 people are considered at-risk or problem gamblers.
Yet it might be extremely difficult for Albertans to give up gambling.
Charities and community groups directly collect about $325 million from gambling revenue, mostly through volunteering at casinos. Another $1.5 billion flows through the Alberta Lottery Fund into provincial ministries, which in turn funds hundreds of programs, not-for-profit groups and community initiatives.
Audio
It's About the Money 
Reporter Erin Collins talks about Alberta's addiction to gambling with the Calgary Eyeopener's Jim Brown. (runs 7:19)
Hustling in Hussar
We visit the Village of Hussar where casino revenue is helping to keep the community alive and thriving. (runs 6:52)
Gambling for the Greater Good
How local school children are benefitting from Alberta's boom in gambling. (runs 6:10)
Debating VLTs
Rocky Mountain House is fighting to keep itself VLT free. (runs 6:47)
Helping gambling addicts in Alberta
The province says it is doing to assist those addicted to gambling. The addicts also tell us what they think the province should be doing. (runs 7:25)
Firsthand account of VLT addiction
A Calgary man shares his story about how he became addicted to gambling - a habit that cost him thousands of dollars a day. It almost cost him his family too. (runs 5:12)
