Canadian casino spending

from canada.com news (4/26/2007)

Canadians gambled $14.5B last year that they didn't win back: Study
Allison Jones
Canadian Press

"TORONTO (CP) - Canadians gambled away $14.5 billion last year playing slot machines, buying lottery tickets and betting at the race track without getting anything in return, a new industry study has found.

The economic report commissioned by the Canadian Gaming Association found the industry made more than $15 billion in revenue last year, including $700 million on non-gambling activities such as food and drinks.

Profits were also found to be massive, pegged at $10.6 billion, including commissions and taxes.

Roughly $7.4 billion enriches provincial coffers, while $3.2 billion is distributed among the Federal government, charities, and lottery operators and retailers.

But critics say the study is far too selective, focusing on the positive impacts of gambling and ignoring the negative ones." ...

"The study, conducted by HLT Advisory Inc., found gaming revenues are on par with profit generated by spectator sports, television, movies, books, magazines and performing arts sectors combined." ...

"Despite these profits, the numbers indicated that gambling revenue in border cities is usually the first to suffer from economic or social changes.

Lyle Hall, a managing director of HLT, said a strong Canadian dollar, border security issues and increased competition in U.S. border markets had adverse effects on casinos in Windsor, Ont., and Niagara Falls in the 2003-04 fiscal year." ....

for the complete article see: http://www.canada.com/globaltv/national/story.html?id=8c06e373-4c73-4bd1-b8f3-4dc5208b6b9d&k=12751

for the executive summary to the CGA report's first volume see: http://www.canadiangaming.ca/english/press/pressrel_detail.cfm?id=15