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Ottawa Public Health says it needs a windfall from the province to combat problem gambling as Hard Rock Casino Ottawa plans a major expansion at the Rideau Carleton Raceway.
There are still gaps in harm-prevention programs when it comes to gambling and the public doesn’t have enough awareness about problem gambling, the health unit says, estimating that nearly 15,000 adults could have gambling problems in Ottawa, based on provincial figures on the prevalence of problem gambling.
According to the health unit, only 540 people in Ottawa received treatment for gambling addictions in 2016-2017. The Ontario Problem Gambling Hotline received nearly 200 calls from Ottawa in 2017.
“Research shows that increases in gambling availability are associated with a growth in problem gambling,” the health unit says in a report published on Monday, pointing to the expansion of casino gaming and online gaming as particular concerns.
The health unit wants $150,000 in one-time funding from the province for a health promotion campaign, plus $200,000 more in annual funding to support its problem gambling strategy, including the creation of an Ottawa Gambling Harm Prevention Network. The network of treatment providers is part of a four-part strategy proposed by the health unit.
The other three parts of the strategy are increasing outreach to youth, increasing outreach to high-risk gamblers and monitoring gambling-related health data.
The health unit points to work by Gambling Research Exchange Ontario that shows problem gambling rates increase after a casino opens. In some cases, the rates return to normal levels over the long-term.
Gillian Connelly, the manager of healthy communities at the Ottawa health unit, said community agencies agree there needs to be more awareness about problem gambling in Ottawa, regardless of Hard Rock’s expansion plans.
“Collectively all our partners are saying there needs to be more prevention work,” Connelly said.
Connelly praised the work being done in Gatineau between Casino du Lac-Leamy, Loto-Quebec and community agencies to raise awareness of problem gambling. It’s something that Ottawa should aim to replicate, she said.
The Champlain Local Health Integration Network funds four gambling-related treatment programs in Ottawa. In addition to those, the YMCA has a youth gambling awareness program.
City council holds some responsibility in expanding gaming since it needs to approve Hard Rock’s land-use requirements at the Rideau Carleton Raceway (the municipality also receives a cut of gaming revenue through an agreement with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp.). Hard Rock wants 20 more gaming tables, for a total of 55 tables, plus a 2,500-seat concert theatre and a 200-room hotel.
Hard Rock also plans to add 750 slot machines to the existing 1,250 machines, but the company doesn’t need the city’s approval for the slots.
Connelly said the health unit is going after Queen’s Park for the extra money because the province is poised to collect more gaming revenue, which could be redistributed to communities for gambling-addiction programs.
The board of health will consider the report during a meeting next Monday.
The health unit wants city council to get a copy of the report, considering it will soon consider the land-use amendments requested by Hard Rock.
jwilling@postmedia.com
twitter.com/JonathanWilling
查看原文...
There are still gaps in harm-prevention programs when it comes to gambling and the public doesn’t have enough awareness about problem gambling, the health unit says, estimating that nearly 15,000 adults could have gambling problems in Ottawa, based on provincial figures on the prevalence of problem gambling.
According to the health unit, only 540 people in Ottawa received treatment for gambling addictions in 2016-2017. The Ontario Problem Gambling Hotline received nearly 200 calls from Ottawa in 2017.
“Research shows that increases in gambling availability are associated with a growth in problem gambling,” the health unit says in a report published on Monday, pointing to the expansion of casino gaming and online gaming as particular concerns.
The health unit wants $150,000 in one-time funding from the province for a health promotion campaign, plus $200,000 more in annual funding to support its problem gambling strategy, including the creation of an Ottawa Gambling Harm Prevention Network. The network of treatment providers is part of a four-part strategy proposed by the health unit.
The other three parts of the strategy are increasing outreach to youth, increasing outreach to high-risk gamblers and monitoring gambling-related health data.
The health unit points to work by Gambling Research Exchange Ontario that shows problem gambling rates increase after a casino opens. In some cases, the rates return to normal levels over the long-term.
Gillian Connelly, the manager of healthy communities at the Ottawa health unit, said community agencies agree there needs to be more awareness about problem gambling in Ottawa, regardless of Hard Rock’s expansion plans.
“Collectively all our partners are saying there needs to be more prevention work,” Connelly said.
Connelly praised the work being done in Gatineau between Casino du Lac-Leamy, Loto-Quebec and community agencies to raise awareness of problem gambling. It’s something that Ottawa should aim to replicate, she said.
The Champlain Local Health Integration Network funds four gambling-related treatment programs in Ottawa. In addition to those, the YMCA has a youth gambling awareness program.
City council holds some responsibility in expanding gaming since it needs to approve Hard Rock’s land-use requirements at the Rideau Carleton Raceway (the municipality also receives a cut of gaming revenue through an agreement with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp.). Hard Rock wants 20 more gaming tables, for a total of 55 tables, plus a 2,500-seat concert theatre and a 200-room hotel.
Hard Rock also plans to add 750 slot machines to the existing 1,250 machines, but the company doesn’t need the city’s approval for the slots.
Connelly said the health unit is going after Queen’s Park for the extra money because the province is poised to collect more gaming revenue, which could be redistributed to communities for gambling-addiction programs.
The board of health will consider the report during a meeting next Monday.
The health unit wants city council to get a copy of the report, considering it will soon consider the land-use amendments requested by Hard Rock.
jwilling@postmedia.com
twitter.com/JonathanWilling
查看原文...
