counter Gaming Research Weblog: November 2005

Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Gambling & Transboundary Economic Raiding [Online Law Journal Article]

The article "Destructive Economic Policies in the Age of Terrorism: Government-Sanctioned Gambling as Encouraging Transboundary Economic Raiding and Destabilizing National and International Economies" (2005, October) by Professor John Warren Kindt appears as an ACDIS (Arms Control, Disarmament, and International Security) Occasional Paper. It was originally published in the Temple International and Comparative Law Journal.

Canadians might find the following contentious statements in the paper of interest:

p. 26 -- "Canada had cannibalized the U.S. economy by locating casinos along the Canada-U.S. border. The U.S. response by the cannibalized states was to propose and/or build their own casinos to recapture the gambling dollars going to Canada—a situation emphasizing the U.S. State Department’s need to negotiate amendments to its FCN bilateral and multilateral
treaties to prohibit “transboundary economic raiding” via gambling activities."

p. 29 -- "...the federal government should impose a tax structure upon legalized gambling
operations that reflects the cost they impose on society, such as the Canadian model where taxes are 100 percent with only management fees going to the casino companies."

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Two New Ontario Studies from OPGRC [Online Reports]

Two studies funded by the OPGRC (Ontario Problem Gambling Research Centre) have been freshly "minted" for the Internet... they are:

1) Seniors and Gambling: Sociodemographic and Mental Health Factors Associated with Problem Gambling in Older Adults in Ontario (2005, September), and;

2) Self-Regulation and Problem Gambling (2005, November)

Friday, November 25, 2005

2005 Newfoundland & Labrador Prevalence Study [Online Report]

Newfoundland & Labrador had been the only Canadian province that hadn't undertaken a comprehensive gambling prevalence study... until today when the "2005 Newfoundland and Labrador Gambling Prevalence Study" (2005, November) was released. It was authored by Market Quest Research Group Inc. for the Department of Health and Community Services.

Thursday, November 24, 2005

[AGA White Paper]

The American Gaming Association has made available another white paper... this time entitled "An Industrywide Response: Promoting Responsible Gaming And Problem Gambling Research, Education and Treatment" (2005, November). It's an amalgam of interviews with industry executives who have been involved with responsible gambling.

Wednesday, November 23, 2005

Problem Gambling in Queensland Corrections [Online Report]

The report "Games People Play - Problem gambling in Queensland Community Corrections" (2005, November) was produced for the Department of Corrective Services, Queensland Government. It surveys those offenders on community corrections orders... essentially for those individuals who are on community service orders as well as those on post-prison community based release (parole).

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Internet Gambling & Canada [Magazine Article]

The article entitled "Calvin Ayre — The Dealer" appears in the October 24th issue of the magazine Canadian Business. What doesn't appear in the online version of the article is a table that lists some of the larger Internet gambling web sites and where they're hosted. The online casino Absolute Poker is listed as being hosted by the Six Nations Internet Gaming Regulatory Body which is near Brantford, Ontario.

Looking back at past stories from November 2003 in the Brantford Expositor, it appears that the Absolute Poker site was at one time clandestinely being hosted from the Six Nations territory without the knowledge of band gaming officials. It's still unclear if Absolute is currently being hosted there... maybe the

Monday, November 21, 2005

City of London, England and New Casino Proposals [Online Report]

The report "On the Cards: The proposals for new casinos in London" (2005, November) was produced by the London Assembly to explore the practical implications of the development of super-casinos. It also "makes a series of recommendations intended to ensure that, if the capital is to play host to any of the proposed new casinos, Londoners will enjoy the benefits rather than suffer any disadvantages."

Friday, November 18, 2005

Cruises to Nowhere Departing from Florida [Online Reports]

The Florida Senate report "Legalized Gambling in Florida - the Competition in the Marketplace" (2004, November) provides a good history of gambling in the Sunshine State. A lesser known fact about casino gambling is that it is a major attraction on cruise ships departing from that State. For more on this topic, see another Senate report entitled "Cruises to Nowhere" (2003, November).

Thursday, November 17, 2005

60 Minutes to Feature Internet Gaming [Television]

The CBS television show 60 Minutes will be featuring the story "I-Gaming: Illegal And Thriving" on its November 20th broadcast. The web page also offers an option to watching a short video by reporter Lesley Stahl as an introduction to the upcoming program.

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

International Gambling Studies Vol. 5(2) [Online Journal]

International Gambling Studies Vols. 1 & 2 [Free Online Journal]

The ANU Centre for Gambling Research [Australia] has made freely available Volume 1 (2001) and Volume 2 (2002) of the journal International Gambling Studies. The Centre (then known as the Australian Centre for Gambling Research) was the publisher for these early volumes of this title.

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Unconventional Las Vegas [tv documentary]

Las Vegas: An Unconventional History is a documentary that is airing November 14th & 15th, 2005 on PBS television. The web site for the program contains lots of other interesting details -- including a list for further reading and other special features. You can even order the DVD and accompanying book.

Monday, November 14, 2005

Informed Choice and Gambling

The Australian Gaming Council has made available the paper "Current Issues: Informed Choice and gambling: Principles for consumer protection" (2005, November). According to the paper itself, "The primary objective of this paper is to clarify the issue of personal responsibility and the role of industry in providing relevant and full information necessary for informed decision-making." It was prepared for the Council by Alex Blaszczynski, Robert Ladouceur, Lia Nower and Howard J. Shaffer.

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

Gaming Law Review - New Issue [Online Journal]

The October 2005 issue (Volume 9, Issue 5) of Gaming Law Review is now available to subscribers. Table of contents only for others. "Original papers" include:
  • Reservation Shopping 101
    By Heidi McNeil Staudenmaier, Anne Bishop
  • Not All that It's Cracked Up to Be
    By Bennett Liebman
  • Interstate Compacts and the Gaming Industry: An Ohio Application
    By Christopher B. McNeil
  • The Jones Act
    By John Givens
  • Voluntary Self Exclusion Lists: How They Work and Potential Problems
    By Andy Rhea

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

Casino Dealers [Blog]

The Casino Dealer weblog provides links of interest relating to casinos and casino dealers (e.g., hiring & training opportunities).

Monday, November 07, 2005

Socioeconomic Impacts of Niagara Fall, NY casino [Study]

The study "Seneca Niagara Casino: Fiscal & Economic Impact on Niagara Falls, NY" (2005, June) by Center for Governmental Research & Gardner, K. is another attempt to quantify the economic impact of casino gambling.

Friday, November 04, 2005

Australian Gambling Stats 2005 [Factsheets]

The Centre for Gambling Reseach (CGR) at The Australian National University has a "Factsheets" section on their web site. These factsheets provide the actual gambling statistics and also add context to the data.

They're based on the publication "Australian Gambling Statistics 2005: Including data for the period 1978-79 to 2003-04" which was Prepared by the Office of Economic and Statistical Research, Queensland Treasury.

Thursday, November 03, 2005

Loto-Québec & Social Responsibility [Online Report]

Loto-Québec has made available a document entitled "For a Responsible Contribution" (2005, November) that sets forth all of its social responsibility initiatives. It also provides an excellent description of gambling and its history in La Belle Province.

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Gaming in Alberta [Facts Sheet]

Alberta Gaming has updated the document "Gaming in Alberta - Quck Facts" (2005, October). A good starting point to use when reviewing statistical information on gambling in the Province of Alberta.

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Ontario's Casino Rama [Discussion Paper]

Maintain, Protect, Enhance: A Discussion Paper on Casino Rama (2005, February) is the name of a report produced by the Union of Ontario Indians that provides a short history of Ontario's Casino Rama and some details on how revenues are shared.