PRESS RELEASE
GameOverVLTs.com Reveals More Stories of Family Devastation as Government Sidesteps VLT Question at Gambling Conference

Halifax, N.S. October 4, 2005 –GameOverVLTs.com continued to press its case for the elimination of VLTs from Nova Scotia communities today.

When this citizens’ coalition launched its website in April 2005, 14 courageous Nova Scotians revealed the horror of their lives under the spell of VLTs. This initiative has continued to gain momentum. Today, 26 new stories from actual victims of VLT addiction are being posted. This brings the number of accounts to 54. Like the stories preceding them, they chronicle the pain and suffering that VLTs leave in their wake.

GameOverVLTs.com, also says the Nova Scotia Government squandered an opportunity this week to advance public understanding on the VLT debate.

The Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation is hosting a conference entitled “Creating a Better Balance” and has flown in speakers from across Canada, the US and Europe.

Danny Graham, liberal gambling critic and co-chair of GameOverVLTs.com, stated that “while the conference touches on some important gambling issues, it appears to be largely designed to advance government messages and the conference has conspicuously sidestepped a serious debate about VLTs.”

Nova Scotians want VLTs banned by a ratio of 2:1. Despite this strong public opinion, the government has remained unmoved.

In late June, faith communities and families of suicide victims made national news with their respective calls to ban VLTs in Nova Scotia. The provincial government responded to the pleas by arguing that an underground market would grow up in place of a legal market. The government has not, however, responded to forceful comments since then from experts who say that this argument has no merit:

1. June 27, 2005, Robert Stewart, the Chief of South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division –Globe and Mail.
2. July 2, 2005, Ontario Provincial Police Detective Emilio DiPoce –Globe and Mail
3. July 13, 2005, Prof. Garry Smith, Gambling Research Specialist – University of Alberta – CBC Information Morning – Halifax

In addition, GameOverVLTs.com pointed out that the Gaming Corporation’s conference is focused primarily on treatment issues and would have been more topical if speakers had been invited to address the important issues of consumer protection around VLTs. In early August, for example, a groundbreaking study commissioned by the Law Commission of Canada and written by Canadian researchers called for a royal commission and a moratorium on the expansion of gambling in Canada. It would have been helpful to hear from one of these researchers.

To provide a broader perspective, GameOverVLTs.com introduced Prof. Linda Hancock at its press conference. Prof. Hancock is the Director of the Public Policy Program at Deakin University, Australia. For four years she chaired the Independent Gambling Research Panel in the state of Victoria that commissioned research on the social economic impact of gambling.

Dr. Hancock is an international expert in gambling research, community impact, consumer protection and responsible gaming regulation. She is also a consultant to the UK government. Dr. Hancock is attending the “Creating a Better Balance” conference.


Debbie Langille
GameOverVLTs.com – Communications
Email: support@gameovervlts.com
Phone: (902) 497-9280