Faith groups disappointed in VLT outcome
NEW BRUNSWICK- Although they lost the final vote by a narrow margin, the opponents of video lottery gambling in New Brunswick believe their message made an impact.
During municipal elections May 14 New Brunswickers voted to determine the future of Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs) in the province—weighing the social costs of addiction against millions of dollars of revenue.
About 53 per cent of voters opted to keep VLTs while 47 per cent were opposed. As a result, the government will continue to allow the legal and regulated operation of VLTs in licensed establishments.
"I am disappointed in the outcome of this vote," says William Hockin, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Fredericton. "Unfortunately it is a vote to continue a very destructive practice—that destroys people and families, breaks hearts and deadens conscience."
The Anglican church is one of many denominations opposed to VLT gambling, which was legalized in New Brunswick in 1990. Currently the machines bring in about $110 million in revenue, $53.4 million of which goes to government coffers.
Good Samaritan principle
When the referendum was announced in April, Christian advocacy groups increased their lobby against the VLTs.
Karl Csaszar, a Baptist pastor and head of the Canada Family Action Coalition in Fredericton, voiced his concerns about the social implications of VLT gambling on radio and television and encouraged congregations and civic organizations to do the same.
"The research shows that VLT gambling is the crack cocaine of gambling," he says. "It's highly addictive and you don't get a chance to just walk away from it." After interviewing numerous addicts, he says the majority "knew they were trapped by this addiction and wished that someone would come along…and control their ability to go to a machine."
"We are our brother's keeper," he adds. "What makes for a civilized country is the Good Samaritan principle where people can feel secure that others will look out for them and their family."
Csaszar says the anti-VLT campaign could have been more effective had more Christians taken time to examine the issues and vote.
Social implications
Terrance Trites, a pastor and secretary of the Moncton Area Council of Churches, has worked with gambling addicts. As the pro-VLT faction emphasized the possibility of tax hikes and proliferation of underground gambling should the VLTs be eliminated, he says he's concerned that "there's a case of personal and social health being ignored."
Research from the University of Manitoba shows a VLT addict could cost up to $56,000 per year to rehabilitate. In a study commissioned by the New Brunswick government in 1996, researchers found that about 9,400 of people who play VLTs have been problem gamblers at one time.
The United Baptist Convention of the Atlantic Provinces highlights its concerns in an April report written by Lois Mitchell, interim director of social action.
"To those who have become addicted, gambling has brought increased stress and deterioration to their lives and families," she writes. "It begins a long road of pain and disillusionment…The financial and psychological toll from compulsive wagering can be as severe as other destructive behaviours such as drugs and alcohol."
"We have a responsibility as Christians to speak up and declare where we stand," says Trites. "It's not an issue where people have to think like us or believe like us, but let's talk about this and make informed decisions."
Paul Brown, district director for the New Brunswick Canadian Bible Society, says he was encouraged by the effort made by the faith groups, who had little or no budget to counter the estimated $400,000 pro-VLT campaign.
"It was an unequal battle—David versus Goliath in terms of finances and paid advertising." But, he says, "Christians who had only about a month and a half to get their act together showed if they think seriously and pray, they can have an impact."
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