Re: Government-Sanctioned Online Gambling: Short-Sighted And Morally Bankrupt (April 20): Internet gambling has been available for more than 10 years. It’s a growing world-wide $30-billion business with the current Canadian market estimated as being in excess of $1-billion.
Over this same 10-year period the rate of problem gambling in Canada (one per cent of the general population) has not increased. What this tells us is that the overwhelming majority of Canadians gamble responsibly whether in bricks and mortar facilities or online.
What we need to concentrate on here in Canada is ensuring that the games available are safe, secure and subject to sufficient regulatory oversight. This is why provincial governments and their agencies are getting involved. It’s good public policy and the right thing to do.
Bill Rutsey, CEO, Canadian Gaming Association