(Image: Bill Gozansky / Alamy)

In the small Canadian province of Prince Edward Island, a Liberal Party politician has urged the local government to cancel a ‘Casino 101’ event due to be held this weekend at the Red Shores Racetrack and Casino - one of the best casinos in Canada.

A member of the Liberal Party representing the island territory’s Tignish-Palmer Road district, Hal Perry, raised the issue during a General Assembly session on Tuesday dealing with gambling addiction.

SaltWire Network reports the episode also saw the 58-year-old politician ask Finance Minister Jill Burridge for an update on the government’s plans to curb the prevalence of video lottery terminals.

Modest Maneuver

Being marketed as a ‘how the slot machines work’ session by Red Shores Racetrack and Casino, the free ‘Casino 101’ event is due to take place on Saturday and endeavor to teach punters ‘all the basics of blackjack’.

Opened almost 19 years ago, the 50,000 sq ft Charlottetown facility hosts a sportsbook, live harness racing, a trio of restaurants, and a casino with an array of approximately 200 slots and six gaming tables.

However, Perry questioned Burridge over the wisdom of allowing such an event to take place and cited a 2021 study that suggested 9% of the population of Prince Edward Island could be at risk of developing a problem with gambling. 

He went on to ask his Progressive Conservative Party counterpart whether the government of Premier Dennis King would now be asking for the ‘Casino 101’ affair to be called off.

Rational Reply

In response, Burridge asserted she was not aware of the ‘Casino 101’ event but understood Red Shores Racetrack and Casino is keen to promote ‘healthy play’ options in partnership with the Atlantic Lotteries Commission, encompassing bet and play-time limits. 

The Minister furthermore declared the elevation of gambling is ‘not part of our strategy’ and she would ‘make a call to learn more about what they're trying to do there’.

“While there are people in this gambling space for whom it may not be healthy for them, there is also a great population out there that wants to engage in a healthy way,” Burridge said. 

“It's a social interaction for them. So, there is a place for that.”

Coherent Calculation

The General Manager of Red Shores Racetrack and Casino, David MacKenzie, told SaltWire Network his establishment is committed to supporting the province's responsible gambling strategy and organized the ‘Casio 101’ event ‘as part of our action plan to promote healthy and positive play’.

“Enhanced gambling literacy is essential to enabling players to make informed decisions and keep their play for purposes of entertainment,” MacKenzie said.

Forthcoming Formula

During the General Assembly session, Perry furthermore asked Burridge to clarify the government’s future plans following the September publication of a revised responsible gambling strategy.

This scheme is said to have called for the province of about 155,000 people to ‘limit access to video lottery terminals’ and consider the implementation of advertising without showcasing of higher-risk games. 

“You've heard the stories, and so have I; a mother goes into a bar after work, just got paid, and ends up sinking a couple hundred dollars into a video lottery terminal, seeking temporary relief from financial trouble that she might be in,” Perry said. 

“As responsible people given the job of leading this province, how can we continue to allow this scourge to hurt so many people?”

Burridge replied by confirming the government’s gambling strategy is to immediately focus on educating residents about the harms of gambling in addition to healthier play options.

“There are people who want to gamble and it's our job to ensure that they're gambling in a responsible way using healthy play,” Burridge said.