Playing the machines

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Playing The Machines

Tuesday July 7, 2009 at 10 pm ET/PT on CBC Newsworld

Video lottery terminals and slots in Canada bring in more money than all the gambling combined in Las Vegas. And most of that money comes from a growing number of people who never dreamed they'd ever get hooked. While VLT addiction is recognized as a serious problem in Canada, does the government need for revenue mean the enormous social costs are being ignored?

Playing the Machines features the stories of three people: "Trailer Park Boys" actor and VLT addict, John Dunsworth; Susan Piercey, from Corner Brook, Newfoundland, a young woman who started gambling at 18 and took her life; and the late Garnet Rhyno of Halifax, "a devoted husband and father who loved life" until he became addicted to VLT's.

John Dunsworth (Mr. Lahey on "Trailer Park Boys") has been campaigning against the damages of VLT's for years. His group "Game Over VLTS" draws special attention to the close to 200 suicides each year by people with gambling addiction problems.

"There's a pejorative taint to being addicted to gambling, that you're a weak person. I'm not saying that every single person can be entrapped by the machines. But there's a significant enough percentage so that the machines should be declared dangerous. Dangerous to public health." (John Dunsworth)

Keith Piercey, Susan's father, tells one of those stories. Four years ago, his beautiful and successful 31 year-old daughter Susan committed suicide. An honours student, she became hopelessly addicted to the machines. In her journal Susan wrote, "I sold my soul to play your game, you never judged me, ever ready to accept my money. You've hurt me more than anything or anyone in my life."

Sherry Rhyno of Halifax lost her husband to suicide because of gambling. "We ended up re-mortgaging. Several times. We lost a lot of money. I would say easy two-hundred and fifty, three hundred thousand dollars. It was affecting every aspect of our life. Every aspect of our life."

Playing the Machines is shot in Las Vegas, South Carolina, Halifax and St. John's and includes commentary from several gaming experts and two people who have been fighting against video lottery terminals. Newfoundland lawyer Ches Crosbie is leading a class action lawsuit that includes Keith Piercey's case about his daughter's suicide; and Richard Gergel who won the fight to ban VLT's in South Carolina for good.

Narrated by Gordon Pinsent, Playing the Machines is directed by Barbara Doran and produced by Rob Blackie (Morag Loves Company, St. John's, NL) in association with CBC Newsworld.

Playing the Machines is directed by Barbara Doran and produced by Rob Blackie (Morag Loves Company, St. John's, NL) in association with CBC Newsworld.