National Gaming Revenues Drop
The recession is taking its toll on the national gambling revenues in Canada, according to Statistics Canada.
Numbers show that gambling revenues dropped for the first time in 16 years from traditional sources such as lotteries, slots, bingo and so forth.
Thankfully, the drop has not been a huge one, with $13.7 billion recorded in 2007 and $13.67 a year later.
Statistics Canada also showed that while 75% of Canadians tried their luck through these gambling resources in one way or another nine years ago, that number had dropped to 52% in 2008.
Other interesting facts highlighted the fact that Albertans were now overtaken by Manitibans and Saskatchewanians in the title for highest per capital spending on gambling pastimes in the nations. 56% of all households in Manitoba spend money on gambling, it was found.
However, Albertans still spent $871 per person in 2008, according to Statistics Canada - way above the national average of $547 per capita.
The Albertan government will not be left empty handed, despite the drop in national gaming revenues. It is expected that it will bring in as much as $1.5 billion in revenue from the thousands of slot machines and VLT's scattered around the province.
It is also expected that the Alberta government will collect $325 million for charities this year.
