Racino Watch demands answers about gaming social cost

An advocacy group wants the province to take stock of the social impact of Charlottetown's new racino before it builds a second gaming complex in Summerside.

Racino Watch P.E.I., which is opposed to the development, has asked Provincial Treasurer Mitch Murphy for information on social problems caused by the racing and gaming entertainment centre, but the province is not providing details. Murphy is the minister responsible for harness racing in the province.

The P.E.I. government is waiting for a report from the Atlantic Lottery Corporation on the Charlottetown racino before it makes a final decision on the Summerside project. That report is expected shortly. The Charlottetown racino, with its 225 video lottery terminals, opened in August 2005.

Leo Broderick, who speaks for Racino Watch P.E.I., says information on the social impact is available. Racino Watch wants not only a full financial picture, but also statistics on who uses the facility.

"Most casinos keep track, for their own information, of the regular patrons who are there day after day after day," he said. "That's the kind of information that does give us a little information on the social impact. So that would be important and the minister would have access to that information."

The Atlantic Lottery Corporation has indicated that the Charlottetown racino is not reaching revenue targets. Broderick says a lacklustre financial performance is good news because it likely means fewer problem gamblers.

Only 11 people have visited the racino's gaming information centre for help with a gambling addiction. Broderick says that shows the corporation's responsible gaming strategy is not working.

Broderick says the government should abandon its plans for a second racino, if not out of concern about an increase in gambling addictions, then because it would not be a good financial investment.

Meanwhile, New Brunswick is looking at whether a racino in that province would generate revenue. New Brunswick Finance Minister Jeannot Volpe says he plans to visit the Charlottetown racino to find out more about harness racing - video lottery terminal facilities.

Volpe says harness racing officials in Saint John have been lobbying him to build a racino because they believe it would make money to help their sport. He says he will decide within weeks whether a formal study is needed.