Atlantic Lottery Corporation has recently launched a new way of attracting new players to the online gambling scene with their CA$20 voucher promotion for newly signed platform players. However, this initiative has not been accepted very well in the public with Tory finance critic Murray Ryan claiming it to be an unsafe way of promoting gambling.
Last Friday the Northside-Westmount MLA brought up the matter of flyers being distributed to the local mailboxes promoting online gambling and lottery offerings. Each flyer includes a CA$20 voucher for everyone who signs up for a new online account. And registered users receive further promotional materials in the mail after setting up their new accounts.
Questionable Initiative
Mr. Ryan has publicly questioned the Crown corporation’s motives with the launch of the promotion. He believes that by giving them free credits such promotion aims towards bringing players who previously would not consider online gambling as a possibility. In his words, many Nova Scotians would not even think about gambling if it was not for the voucher.
Mr. Ryan claimed that the initiative was to compensate revenue losses after the closure of all businesses such as bars, restaurants, and casinos. This has been the prime reason why the gambling industry has been financially struggling for the last 12 months and this will be a great way for them to raise some revenue.
Health Minister Zach Churchill has stated that his office was not informed of the promotion as well. Due to some raised concerns, the department will be discussing the matter with the Crown. Mr. Churchill said that the department’s major concern is to ensure safer and more responsible gambling and that there is a 24/7 support line for people who need help due to their gambling habits.
NDP Leader Gary Burrill also joined in on the subject by criticizing the Crown Corporation’s method of attracting new players. He declared the promotion inappropriate and further stated that it was a poor decision to introduce such an offering during the lockdown restrictions when people have more spare time on their hands. According to him, now is the wrong time for such a program.
New Brunswick’s Online Platform
This has not been the first time where the Crown Corporation for the Atlantic region has been involved in a controversy. The Crown’s decision to turn to online gambling has been majorly criticized after the launch of an online casino platform for New Brunswick. Many were worried that the size of some betting opportunities such as CA$40 CA$80 and even CA$100 may be rather inappropriate since gamblers have much more time on their hands due to staying at home during the lockdown.
Prince Edward Island Online Expansion
The corporation was also involved in Prince Edward Island’s initiative to revolutionize gambling by launching a digital platform for the region. However, there were some concerns about the time of the launch, but representatives of the Crown agency assured that there will be safety measures in place in order to protect players and provide a safer gambling scene. Additionally, it is believed that this will keep gamblers from offshore websites where safe gambling is not of utmost importance.
Source: Gorman, Michael “Opposition takes aim at online gambling promotion from Atlantic Lottery Corporation”, SBC, March 26, 2021
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