Alberta Ends Funding for Gambling Support Group 

The Alberta government has discontinued financial support for a non-profit organization dedicated to gambling addiction awareness, a move that has sparked concerns amid discussions about expanding private online gambling operations in the province.

The Problem Gambling Resources Network, an Edmonton-based non-profit, has depended on government funding for decades. However, executive director Ray Reshke revealed that the organization was recently informed that its three-year contract would be terminated early, effectively ending the nearly $130,000 in annual funding it has relied on.

“It was a real shock,” Reshke stated. “We had our rug pulled out from under us a year early.”

The organization now faces closure, as the funding represents 95% of its total budget, leaving little room to operate without government support.

The Problem Gambling Resources Network has long served as one of the few organizations in Alberta focused specifically on gambling addiction. It has provided assistance through a drop-in center and telephone support line, though it does not offer direct counseling services. Instead, the network connects individuals with Gamblers Anonymous meetings and Alberta Health Services resources.

One of its key functions has been helping individuals register for the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis voluntary self-exclusion program, which prevents people struggling with gambling addiction from entering casinos.

However, according to Reshke, the group’s most impactful work has been its educational outreach program. For years, the organization has sent paid volunteers with personal experiences in gambling addiction to schools and workplaces to share their stories and spread awareness.

“We’ve probably done around 10,000 gambling education presentations over the time that we’ve been in business, and we’ve reached probably 250,000 people,” Reshke said.

The government justified the funding cut by stating that the organization does not provide direct services, a reason that was also given to four disability advocacy groups, which also lost government funding this month, totaling at least $920,000.

Not everyone agrees with the government’s assessment.

Andree Busenius, a volunteer presenter with the gambling network, emphasized that the need for gambling education has never been greater, particularly among school-aged children.

“One of the things I often hear back from students is that they can list off 10 or 15 online gambling sites,” she said. “But if I ask them [to name] three places to get support for addiction in Alberta, they struggle.”

Busenius said her presentations often focus on helping students recognize gambling elements in their daily lives, such as video game loot boxes, which she argues introduce young people to gambling-like behaviors at an early age.

She added that feedback from teachers and parents has been overwhelmingly positive.

“My true hope for anyone that hears our presentation, whether it’s me or Ray, is do not ride the dump truck all the way to the dumpster like I did,” she said.

When questioned about the decision, Mental Health and Addictions Minister Dan Williams’ office referred inquiries to Recovery Alberta, one of the newly created public health agencies replacing Alberta Health Services.

In an emailed response, Recovery Alberta spokesperson Jessica Conlin explained that the decision was made to refocus funding on direct addiction services.

“These funds are being reallocated to focus on front-line delivery of services to directly support Albertans in their pursuit of recovery,” Conlin stated. She added that Albertans can still access help at any time by calling the Addiction and Mental Health Helpline.

However, she did not address whether other addiction-related organizations were facing similar cuts.

The Opposition NDP’s mental health and addictions critic, Janet Eremenko, condemned the move, arguing that it was irresponsible for the government to cut funding to gambling addiction resources, especially given that Alberta earns over $2 billion annually from gambling revenue.

“They have a fundamental responsibility to step in and create a tangible way for people to point to a specific line item in the budget that says this is what they’re doing to address and prevent problematic gambling and gambling addiction when they’re making that kind of revenue from the gambling itself,” Eremenko said.

Her concerns are exacerbated by Alberta’s growing interest in legalizing private online gambling, a move that would mirror Ontario’s approach.

“Online gambling is a big tidal wave on the horizon, and these kinds of cuts are going to mean that the consequences of that are going to be bigger than ever,” she warned.

Top casinos in Canada

Overall Rating

99

Visit Casino Read Review

Overall Rating

96

Visit Casino Read Review

Overall Rating

96

Visit Casino Read Review

Currently, Play Alberta, a government-run platform, is the only licensed online gambling site in the province. However, many Albertans access offshore betting sites such as Bet365, which operate outside provincial regulation.

Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally, who is responsible for overseeing gambling regulations, acknowledged that Alberta’s current online gambling market is poorly regulated, referring to it as the “Wild West.” He suggested that following Ontario’s model could make online betting safer in the province.

“Online gambling will never be a safe activity, but there are ways to make it safer,” Nally stated. “We have a fiduciary responsibility to put Albertans’ safety first, and we take that very seriously.”

Meanwhile, the Problem Gambling Resources Network faces an uncertain future. With government funding ending, the organization has few alternatives to sustain itself.

“We do some fundraising, [but] we have a hard time with that,” Reshke said. “People don’t like to provide money to gamblers.”

The funding officially runs out at the end of February, putting the future of gambling addiction education and outreach in Alberta in jeopardy.

Source:

Alberta Cuts Funding to Gambling Support Group as It Eyes Private Online Betting, CTV News, January 31, 2024