Nova Scotia VLT Tracking System Fails
Nova Scotia had launched a special tracking system two years ago. The programme was intended to reduce problem and excessive gambling. The system will soon be removed since it seems that the Nova Scotia VLT tracking system has failed.
What is the My-Play System?
The My-Play tracking system is a system that was installed on Video Lottery Terminals in order to prevent excessive gambling. Players who wished to play on VLTs had to insert the My-Play card into the VLT before beginning play. Players set self-imposed time limits and spending limits, and could also choose the option to stop play immediately.
While it was mandatory for all VLT players to use the system in Nova Scotia, there were certain downfalls, which caused the system to come under attack early on. While all players had to use the My-Play card system, players could choose their own restrictions. Since the restrictions were not mandatory, those with gambling addictions did not have to restrict themselves.
Nova Scotia has been using the special tracking system that was installed two years ago in order to try and prevent problem gambling. The costs of installing and running the system have amounted to $19.5 million since the product was introduced in April 2012. An estimated $13 million of that was used for the original capital costs, however, each year it costs about $4.5 million to operate the system. It would have cost about another one million in order to do necessary upgrades at this time.
Nova Scotia Removing Failed VLT Tracking System
The My-Play VLT tracking system has not met its objectives, and has simply become a waste of money for the provincial government. Since the programme has not managed to meet its objectives, it is being removed from Video Lottery Terminals in Nova Scotia. The system will take some time to take down, and the process to do so will begin on September 8th.
Dave Wilson, from the NDP, helped introduce the system under the previous provincial government disagrees with the current government's assessment of the programme. At the time that My-Play was introduced, he was the minister responsible for this project. Wilson claims that the government simply does not want to spend the money on the system, and would also like to increase gambling income for the province.
Wilson said: "I haven't seen the evidence that the government has been calling that this programme isn't working. If they have it, then they should be forthright with Nova Scotians and show them this programme isn't working."
In response, Andrew Younger, the minister that is responsible for Part I of the Gambling Control Act, said: "This isn't about revenue. This is about do we spend $1 million to do a capital upgrade on a system that doesn't work and doesn't achieve what we're trying to achieve with it."
