Gambling addict suing Alberta Gov't for $2 million

[GP_Matt]

Originally Posted by Otsy

You still have to take the time and do the required steps under the voluntary self exclusion program run by the AGLC. People still come back, sometimes using disguises, sometimes not. I'm not sure how many people are on the program but security and the AGLC reps are not going to identify every single person as soon as they come back in to get kicked out. However if you are caught there can be consequences.

and for the person that said it was quite extensive, like 30 minutes worth of signatures and photos.....Well if you can't take 30 minutes to save yourself from an addiction, you probably have some other issues too.

If you want to get yourself banned from a casino I can think of much easier ways.

[GP_Matt]

As a result, she suffered social withdrawal and nearly lost “her marriage, her family, her life.”

I am sorry, but 'nearly lost her marriage'?
I am happily married, but there is no way my wife could dump $750000 in the slot machines over several years and not wreck the marriage.

[Northendzone]

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by Pacem

Your analogy is horrible. The government giving licenses to an industry that preys upon addiction is no where near close to the same as a city building things that are essential to a cities' infrastructure.

It was a joke, not an analogy to be taken seriously.

[GN18]

There are about 2500 people on the voluntary self exclusion program. Good luck trying to remember each and every face. Some people are well known for various reasons and are removed. Others are not known at all due to relocating themselves and frequenting other casinos they normally wouldn't.

But most casinos and RGIC reps do their best to keep self exclusions out of their gaming areas. It just isn't a perfect system and there will never be one.

[troutman]

Status of Canadian Compulsive Gambling Litigation
http://www.gamingresearchpartners.co...Litigation.pdf

Litigation by compulsive gamblers has become increasingly more frequent. There are
cases pending in France1 and Australia.2 In Austria, a compulsive gambler has been
successful in litigation against Casinos Austria.3 Interestingly, compulsive gamblers have
generally been unsuccessful in the United States.

In Canada, there have been approximately five lawsuits filed by compulsive gamblers
against gaming operators or casinos. Because most gaming operations and casinos in
Canada are government sponsored, the government or some branch or association thereof
will be a defendant in any claim naming a gaming operator or casino. Of the five lawsuits
filed, three are or were in Ontario; the other two claims are in Nova Scotia and Quebec.

The courts in Canada may unwittingly provide a solution to the government’s failing
to adequately address problem gambling. Where the government has failed to provide for
problem gambling, ignoring the social costs, the class action claims previously discussed
may ensure that the issue is no longer ignored or diminished. Any orders made to the
benefit of the plaintiff would result in serious cuts to the revenues generated by the
government. By forcing the hand of the government in this manner, the courts are also
effectively enticing the government to provide better programs for problem gambling
through their positive treatment of class actions claims.

[Otsy]

Originally Posted by PACEM

They do not enforce the self exclusion list, so it is pointless. The people that are trying to get help, are not getting it. The people that put in the effort to help themselves and their families do not receive it, its a broken system. Its nothing more then a PR thing. Hey look we are doing something to curb problem gambling, we have a ####ing list. We are doing all that we can, because we have this list. Completely ignoring the fact their list is worthless if its not enforced.

The thing is, this is actually enforced. There are people kicked out on a regular basis and some multiple times that they are facing huge fines. The Casino doesn't use their cameras and recognition software for this, as it's not even their program. This is run by the AGLC. The AGLC has a rep at most of the casino's in the province, but not all. If a security guard recognizes someone, sure he'll boot them out, but most of the time it's up to the AGLC rep to spot them. I know some that do a good job, but they're not there at all times. There's not even 1 rep per casino, and they can't work 24 hours a day. It's not a system that's going to solve every single persons gambling problems, but it's a system that is helping some people.

[Otsy]

Originally Posted by GP_Matt

If you want to get yourself banned from a casino I can think of much easier ways.

So go punch a security guard in every casino in the province then. That'll take some time and you'll probably catch a few severe beatdowns on the way to your goal.

The VSE is province wide, not without it's flaws, but you can still sign up at say Grey Eagle and be on the banned list for every casino in Calgary.

[j_j]

Originally Posted by afc wimbledon

the use of a slot machine may be stupid (well always is to be frank) but it is neither unsafe or addictive in any medical sense.

Gambling addiction is considered disease of the brain. It's covered in the DSM.

Governments already impose hundreds of restrictions on the type (internet), amount (restrict the total numbers) and location of gambling (age restricted locations). I don't think they do that just to prevent excessive stupidity.

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by j_j

Gambling addiction is considered disease of the brain. It's covered in the DSM.

Governments already impose hundreds of restrictions on the type (internet), amount (restrict the total numbers) and location of gambling (age restricted locations). I don't think they do that just to prevent excessive stupidity.

Conditions covered by the DSM (including shyness) are not diseases, it is a diagnostic manual that gives psychologists and consellors a means to identify a disorder, no more than that, and incidently, the DSM is increasingly seen as little more than a method to prescribe anti anxiaty medications sponsered by big pharma.

Nothing in the DSM has relevance to addiction as a medical condition and gambling, like sex,over eating and all kinds of other compulsive behaviours are not physically addictive.

[j_j]

Whether it has any "medical" component might depend on how we narrow that definition. It does involve dopamine and brain chemistry. The primary point of diagnosis of addiction issue is often a medical professional. It is researched and taught in med schools. Drugs and prescribed as a treatment in some cases/places.

Either way, when I'm using the word "safe", I'm looking at the issue from a public health lens--not individual harm.