Alberta's New VLTs Aim To Cut Down On Gambling Problems | HuffPost

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Are New VLTs The Answer To Alberta's Gambling Problem?

Huffington Post Alberta

AP

Casino industry representatives play a Ghostbusters slot machine during the industry's G2E conference, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011, in Las Vegas. Slot machine maker International Game Technology is getting first dibs through a new licensing deal on developing new gambling titles based on movies and television shows owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

The province is upping the ante in hopes of cutting down on the gambling.

Alberta bars and lounges will see an arrival of 6,000 new VLTs over the course of the summer, and the new generation of machines will feature new time limits and a top prize which has more than doubled.

According to the Edmonton Sun, the new machines will cost $187 million, and come at a time when most existing VLTs are reaching the end of their run.

"The lifespan of the VLTs is seven to eight years, replacement parts were no longer available and we were having to cannibalize parts," Jody Korchinski, spokesperson for the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission (AGLC), told the Sun.

Story continues after slideshow

29 Ways You Waste Cash

29. Impulse Buys(01 of29)

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28. Buying Online Without Comparison Shopping(02 of29)

When you shop online, there are hundreds of sites competing for your business. Buy those shoes at the first site you go to and you may be wasting money. Compare the purchase and shipping price at three or more sites before you buy anything. (credit:Flickr: theogeo)

27. Paying For Protection You Don't Need(03 of29)

While you need to protect some things in your life - like your car or your house - you don't need to insure everything. Check out 8 Types of Protection Not Worth Paying For and see what you can live without. (credit:Flickr: jbcurio)

26. Being Disorganized(04 of29)

Being disorganized about your finances leads to costly late payment fees and overdraft charges. You can easily rack up hundreds in fees. For example, even a single $25 late fee per month will cost $300 extra a year. Set up bill reminders and keep your checkbook balanced. (credit:Flickr: aliwest44)

25. Expensive Cell Phone Plans(05 of29)

Consumer Reports says the average person spends $600 a year on wireless service. But many people pay for services they never use. For example, I had an $85 unlimited plan and rarely used more than 1,000 minutes a month. So I switched to a cheaper 1,000-minute plan and saved $20 a month. (credit:Flickr: Yutaka Tsutano)

24. Not Using Coupons(06 of29)

Now that coupons are available online, you're wasting money if you're not using them. Do a quick coupon search before you buy anything, including clothes, groceries, and electronics. You can find coupons on our deals page or on sites like: RetailMeNot, Redplum, and SmartSource.com. (credit:Flickr: Matt McGee)

23. Oil Changes(07 of29)

Cars don't need oil changes as frequently as they used to. If you're getting your oil changed every 3,000 miles, you're probably doing it too often (and wasting money). Follow the recommended mileage in your owner's manual. (credit:Flickr: robertstinnett)

22. Premium Fuel(08 of29)

Unless your car requires premium fuel, you don't need it. Buying premium isn't going to extend the life of your car or give you a significant MPG boost. In fact, Edmunds studied cars built from 2008 to 2012 and found that many models didn't even need premium fuel - even though the manufacturer recommended it. Here's what they had to say about it:

In today's automobiles, advances in engine technology mean that even if the owner's manual recommends premium gasoline, the car will typically run on regular without knocking. Its performance will suffer only slightly: Perhaps it might be a half-second slower from zero to 60 mph. The key for drivers is to know whether premium gasoline is merely recommended or if it's required.

Edmunds has a list of cars that need premium fuel (and a list of those that don't) in To Save Money on Gas, Stop Buying Premium. (credit:Flickr: pscf11)

21. Not Taking Advantage Of A 401(K) Company Match(09 of29)

Many companies will match an employee's 401(k) contribution up to a certain percent. If you're not contributing enough to meet the maximum match, you're losing out on free money. Ask your HR department for information on your company match. (credit:Flickr: urban_data)

20. Bill Pay Convenience Fees(10 of29)

Some online or over-the-phone bill payment services come with fees. For example, my electric company charges $2.95 to pay online through their website. Instead, I use free bill pay through my bank. I still get to pay online, but I skip the fee and save $35.40 a year. (credit:Flickr: kalleboo)

19. Hotel Fees(11 of29)

In many hotels, you'll pay automatic fees on top of your room price. Just paying those fees without finding an alternative (or fighting them) is a waste of money. Check out 7 Tips to Beat Hotel Fees. (credit:Flickr: Bryn Pinzgauer)

18. Paying For Services You Don't Use(12 of29)

Automatic withdrawals make us lazy with our money. If you're paying for something each month - like a gym membership, magazine subscription, or streaming service - make sure you use it, or those charges will add up to wasted cash. For example, here are mine:
1. Gym membership - $29.99 per month
2. Netflix subscription - $9.99 per month
3. Popular Mechanics subscription - $1 per month
That's more than $40 a month. I make sure I get my money's worth out of them. (credit:Flickr: Asiatic League)

17. Ignoring Your Insurance(13 of29)

Becoming complacent about your insurance can cost you money. Stacy recommends shopping around for new insurance once a year - because when premiums drop or new, cheaper policies are available, no one's going to tell you if you don't ask. Check out our insurance comparison tool to shop for a better rate. (credit:Flickr: comedy_nose)

16. Wasting Utilities(14 of29)

Growing up, I got several lectures on leaving the lights on or keeping the front door open and "air conditioning the entire neighborhood." I didn't care too much then because I didn't pay the bill, but now I'm strict with my electricity usage. The result: My summer utility bills rarely top $100. If you've got lights on in a room you're not sitting in, you're wasting money. (credit:Flickr: emdot)

15. Dining Out(15 of29)

I like to have a nice meal out every once in a while, but I've wasted a ton of money eating fast food I didn't really want because I didn't plan ahead. If I hit the drive-thru twice a week, I spend $12 on average. That is $48 a month - or enough for a really nice meal I actually wanted.
In 30 Tips to Save Money on Food, I've got a few ideas that will keep you out of the drive-thru lane - like keeping snacks on hand, freezing your leftovers to eat later, and planning your trips to the grocery store so that you always have something at home to eat. Check it out. (credit:Flickr: Tracy Hunter)

14. Morning Lattes(16 of29)

In my area, a Grande Caramel Macchiato costs $4.55. Buy one every weekday and you'll spend $22.75 a week, $91 a month, and $1,092 a year. By comparison, a 16 ounce bag of coffee costs me $5.99 and I can make about 82 cups per bag. That is 7 cents per cup, a savings of $4.48 a day. Make your coffee at home and skip the fancy coffee-house drinks. (credit:Flickr: Kansir)

13. Buying Software(17 of29)

Many popular software programs have free alternatives that are just as good as the paid versions. For example, the free OpenOffice suite includes word processing software. Pixlr offers free online photo editing with both vintage effects and a basic editor. For more advanced editing, use free software like Gimp. (credit:Flickr: striatic)

12. Long-Distance Calls(18 of29)

Most wireless plans include free long distance. If you call during off-peak hours, you won't use your minutes, either. You can also make long-distance calls over your Internet connection with Skype and Google Voice - both services offer free state-to-state calls. International calls cost 2 to 15 cents per minute through Google Voice. Check out their rate plans here. Skype ranges from 2 to 23 cents per minute. Check out Skype's rate plans here. (credit:Flickr: kiwanja)

11. Baggage On Airlines(19 of29)

You'll pay up to $35 to check your luggage when you fly. Some airlines - like JetBlue and Southwest - don't charge extra for baggage, but most do. Check Airfarewatchdog's Airline Baggage Fees Chart before you book. If you're getting charged, only bring a carry-on (they're free) or find a better airline. (credit:Flickr: betsyweber)

10. Full-Priced College Degrees(20 of29)

Between 2009 and 2010, full-time students spent an average of $17,464 on tuition, room, and board, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. But you can get a college degree cheaper (or even free) with scholarships. There are thousands out there. Check out 5 Ways to Score Scholarship Money. (credit:Flickr: billaday)

9. Credit Reports(21 of29)

By law, the three major credit bureaus have to give you a free copy of your credit report once per year. Don't buy one until you've used up your freebies at AnnualCreditReport.com.
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8. Buying Books(22 of29)

I'm an avid reader, but I haven't paid the suggested price in years. There are plenty of free or cheaper options for getting new books:
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2. Use a book-swapping service to trade books you no longer want for ones you do. Check out the 4 Best Sites for Trading in Your Old Books.
3. Scour garage sales for books. I've bought many hardcovers for $1 this way. Check out 10 Ways to Save Time and Money at Garage Sales for shopping tips. (credit:Flickr: r0sss)

7. Brand Names(23 of29)

Some brand names are worth paying a little more for, but in many cases, the cheaper generics are the same quality as the brand names. For example, basic food stocks like rice, sugar, flour, and butter taste the same no matter what the label says. And generic over-the-counter meds? They work just as well as the name brands. Check out 7 Things You Should Always Buy Generic before you buy anything else with a brand name. (credit:Flickr: fauxto_digit)

6. 411 Calls(24 of29)

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5. ATM Fees(25 of29)

My bank charged a $2.50 "convenience fee" for using an ATM that's not in its network. Convenient for who? I didn't live by a branch, so I was paying around $130 a year to use my own money. I changed banks, and now I use an app - ATM Hunter - to find a branch ATM. (credit:Flickr: redspotted)

4. Credit Card Interest(26 of29)

If you're not paying your credit card balance off in full each month, you're wasting money on interest. If you carry a $1,000 balance on a card that charges 18 percent, you'll waste $180 every year just on interest. If you can't pay off your credit card, check out our credit card comparison tool and look for a card with a lower interest rate. Also look for money-saving zero-percent transfer offers. (credit:Flickr: Images_of_Money)

3. Bottled Water(27 of29)

A 16-ounce bottle of water costs about $1.50 at my local gas station. Buy a bottle of water five days a week, and you'll spend $30 a month and $360 a year. While it's not really free, water from your tap is much cheaper. If you hate the taste - and I do - you can buy a water-filtration system for as little as $20. Check out Consumer Reports' Water filters: green buying guide 2/12. (credit:Flickr: stevendepolo)

2. Checking Accounts(28 of29)

Big banks charge an average of $110 a year for checking accounts if customers don't meet their minimum requirements, U.S. News & World Report recently revealed. Your options?
Move your money to a community bank that will offer better terms, or head to a credit union. The National Credit Union Administration has a Credit Union Locator tool to help you find one in your area.
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1. Cable TV(29 of29)

The average cost of cable is about $100 a month right now. And it's still rising. A recent study by consumer research firm NPD Group says it "expects the average pay-TV bill to reach $123 by the year 2015 and $200 by 2020." I canceled my cable about six months ago and haven't looked back. I keep up on the TV shows I like with Netflix ($9.99 per month for streaming) and Hulu (free for basic, $7.99 per month for extended). Many networks also stream their shows on their websites. For example: ABC, NBC, The CW and Comedy Central.To learn even more, check out You Don't Have to Pay for Cable TV. (credit:Flickr: Wonderlane)

The new machines were purchased based on research that aims to cut down on problem gambling.

Players will be restricted to resetting the time on a machine only once before cashing out and the machines will not accept more than $100 at a time - as opposed to the existing indefinite betting amount.

Top prizes offered by machines have also doubled, reports the Sun, from $1,000 to $2,500.

AGLC spokesperson Michelle Hynes-Dawson told CBC Calgary the province is attempting to balance entertainment with deterrence methods for problem gamblers.

“To try to meet the demand of the players and the expectations of the players, but also do it in a very responsible way so we're not contributing and we're certainly preventing any gaming-related harm,” she said.

According to the Calgary Herald, this month's budget document forecasts $1.48 billion in gambling and lottery revenue for the province this year - an earning that hasn't been seen since 2008.

David Hodgins, of the Alberta Gaming Research Institute, told the Herald the province is not utilizing enough evidence-based strategies to keep gamblers within limits.

A study done for the Alberta Gaming Research Institute in 2002 found 1.3 per cent of Albertans have a gambling problem; a number that climbs among VLT players.

The AGLC currently has an opt-in program in place to allow people to get help with problem gambling. The Herald reports approximately 850 participants have signed up each year, since 2000.

The introduction of the new machines, however, won't help those with addictions, gambling expert Robert Williams told the Herald.

“We’re still going to have addiction problems with them,” he said.

Hodgins told CBC that while addiction gambling is still a concern, the new VLTs are a step in the right direction.

“Any mechanism that will interrupt play is potentially positive. So we know that some people get really mesmerized by their experience,” he said.

NDP MLA David Eggen said that if the province truly cared about problem gamblers, “they would just have fewer VLTs, instead of putting out fancy, new shiny ones.”

“If they are even spending one dime on something like this, it’s entirely inappropriate,” Eggen told Global Calgary.

Wildrose government critic Shayne Saskiw agreed, telling Global the $187 million is “an astronomical amount. Aren’t there more effective and efficient ways to curb gambling? It’s mind-boggling really.”

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