Months ago, Montreal public health has made a recommendation against the proposed plan to install around 300 video lottery terminals at Taverne 1909, a four-storey building next to the Bell Centre.
A nearly 40-page report on the proposed gaming centre details the potential harms associated with opening a mini-casino-type establishment in the heart of the city's downtown, a stone's throw from the Montreal Canadiens' home arena.
According to Montreal Public Health data, the number of visitors to the Montreal Casino has steadily decreased since 2005, but online gaming has gone up significantly.
The report says a new gaming hall would "result in a substantial change in the supply" of gaming machines.
Concordia sociology professor Sylvie Kairouz helped write the opinion for public health. She said that research from the past two decades has shown that VLTs are "built for addiction."
"They are, in terms of the way they work, the way they reward the player, the speed of the game, there are all the electronic dimensions of those machines that make them very addictive, which means that people are more likely to lose control when they gamble on those machines compared to any other type of gambling activity," she said.
The report added that VLTs at a depanneur or local pub do not have the same impact as those in a space like the Bell Centre with its massive crowds.
"We're bringing them at the centre where there is the most people circulating among the residents, but also from outside other areas that are coming to this hub actually," said Kairouz.
Drouin speaking with media but not with us
In a statement, Loto-Québec said it was taken aback by Drouin's public statements."We are stunned that Montreal Public Health would decide to send its report — and grant interviews — to journalists, instead of the main party concerned, Loto-Québec," reads the statement.
"We're especially surprised given that we've been working with Montreal Public Health on this matter for two years."
Loto-Québec also said it has a hard time understanding why its plan to reduce the number of video lottery machines by about 600 would be considered a bad idea.
Canadian Gaming Association: Illegal gambling a sign some provinces need a new model.
According to Canadian Gaming Association President and CEO Paul Burns, the answer to the problem is to look west at the regulated, competitive, Ontario model.
“The governments there can do what Ontario did and create a regulated marketplace, with consumer protections and choice,” he said. “Like with any jurisdiction, the solutions are within their control. And they can design the market so that it fits their region. Each province has to decide what’s best for their marketplace. That’s what Ontario did. After a lot of consultation, they came up with a plan.
