Canada Releases Gambling Revenue Figures
The Canadian Gaming Association released figures Tuesday that demonstrate just how important casino gambling has become as a source of government revenue. In 2006, Alberta casinos contributed $2.3 billion to the economy, of which the government and charities received $1.6 billion.
Total revenues from Canadian gambling in the same year reached $15.3 billion, of which governments and charities received $8.7 billion.
In the case of Alberta, $1.3 billion went directly to the Alberta Lottery Fund. According to Lynn Hutchings-Mah of the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission, this money is divided up to fund thousands of local volunteer and community programs, including building and supporting libraries, parks, and playgrounds.
The study also found that in 2006, there were 267,000 Canadians employed by the casino industry. Over $11.6 billion was paid out in wages and salaries.
Gaming companies and casinos also spent over $10 billion on construction and refurbishment of facilities.
The study found that 85% of adult Canadians gamble in one form or another, a statistic the authors said was consistent with worldwide figures.
Judith Glynn, director of grants operations at the Ontario Problem Gambling Research Centre, found the study to be "a public relations exercise." She wanted to know what use Canadian citizens would have made of that money if it hadn't been gambled.
Of course, the likely answer is that much of the money might have still been gambled, only acroos the border in Detroit and other U.S. cities. Even if the money had been spent purchasing goods, the return for the government off standard sales tax would be significantly less.
