Alberta gambling activity jumps, despite economic downturn

Albertans have been gambling more than the province expected,even withthe economic downturn.

In the first six months of the 2015-16 fiscal year, the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission raked in $12.5 million more than expected, driven in large part by a$22.2-million overperformanceinlottery ticket sales.

Part of that may have been caused by a string of large jackpots in the $50-million range, said Bill Richardson, president of the AGLC. He saidthe low investment to potentially win a very large jackpot canencourage non-traditional gamblers to participate.

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At the same time that ticket lottery salesincreased, the province saw an $18 million drop in revenue fromvideo lottery terminals.

"What we're seeing is a rebalancing given what's going on in the economy," said Robinson.

"It's about disposable income," he said."In an economy like this, things tighten up a little bit, and I think we're seeing part of that."

Robinsonsaid the province has seen an outward migration because of the downturn, and that some of the people who have left the province may have been VLT players. He also said it's common for people to switch between gambling venues from time to time.

Overall,gaming net revenue from April 1 to Sept.1, 2015in Alberta was $908.8 million,1.4 per cent higher than budgeted.

David Hodgins, apsychologist andcoordinator with the Alberta Gambling Research Institute, was unsurprised by the jump in lotto ticket sales.

"Lottery tickets are a pretty inexpensive way of purchasing a dream," he said

However, Hodginsworried that the downturn couldpushproblem gamblers, who represent roughly one to two per cent of the population,back into addictionby falsely appearing as a solution to their financial or personal problems.

"It's a real precipitant to people relapsing back into gambling," he said.