A new study is recommending that an inter-provincial task force be established in western Canada to address such issues as gambling and crime.

The authors of the study say the Winnipeg Police Service and the RCMP should be part of the new task force.

The study was done for the Calgary based Canada West Foundation. It's a research group which looks at issues of concern to western Canada.

One of the co-authors says an interprovincial task force would help clean up illegal gambling. Harold Wynne says right now police don't spend enough time investigating gambling related crime.

"Here we're suggesting other agencies are involved too, so not just law enforcement ie the RCMP Vancouver city and Winnipeg police and so on. But also the provincial gaming regulators from those provinces and perhaps even at some point the security personnel in casinos and race tracks," Wynne says.

Wynne co-authored the study, which looked at many areas related to crime and gambling - from chronic gamblers who steal to support their addiction to the way organized crime uses casinos and race tracks to launder money.

Wynne says the most significant finding in the study is just how little is known about the links between crime and gambling. He says there is need for much more research into the area.

"One of our major concerns is that law enforcement organizations, the RCMP, the city police and so on don't seem to have the resources to basically investigate to the extent they'd like to, or are able to," Wynne says.

Wynne says crime and gambling cross over in many areas. He says authorities know that legal casinos and race tracks are prime money laundering sites. And he says it affects many segments of society.

"Bookmaking right now for instance, I would submit to you, in the high schools in Winnipeg is actually quite pervasive. You'd be surprised," Wynne says.

Wynne says a task force of law enforcement officials, gaming regulators and even staff from gambling locations should be put together. The task force could pass on information about illegal gaming activities, and would shore up security issues at sanctioned gambling loacations.

A Winnipeg Police spokesperson says he doesn't know who would pay or how such a task force would be organized. He says the topic is expected to be discussed at a meeting later today.