Gambling Revenues Decline in Nova Scotia
According to an annual report published this week, gambling revenues dropped in Nova Scotia, Canada over the past year.
The report was published by Nova Scotia's Alcohol and Gaming Division, and showed that wagers placed in 2010-2011 totaled $1.42 billion - a slight drop from $1.43 billion one year before.
The division said that revenues dropped due to a rise in operating expenses - which climbed from $70 million to $78 million.
However, the acting president for Nova Scotia Gaming, Stephen MacDonald didn't seem too concerned with the numbers.
"Despite the slight decline, the year went well," he said. "Our network of retailers makes significant economic contributions across the province."
Social Responsibility
The Nova Scotia Gaming Corp said that as part of their lottery business, all 1,400 retailers agree to complete annual responsible gambling retailer training.
"It is one more step in ensuring that we have a socially responsible gaming industry in Nova Scotia, said MacDonald.
The report also showed that bets on video lottery terminals were down by $16 million to $672 million. These made up just under half the wagers placed by gamblers in Nova Scotia.
Nova Scotia's gambling industry came under scrutiny recently after it agreed to launch a new study with the objective being to examine the social harms caused by gambling.
Two years ago, the government commissioned a similar study but it was shelved because the methodology used by the researcher was deemed faulty. Findings in the shelved report showed that six people committed suicide a year in Nova Scotia over problem gambling. The writer of the report maintained that there was nothing wrong with the methodology used in the report and continues to defend his work.
As stated, a new study has now been commissioned.
