(As printed in the courts section of the Telegraph Journal Wed, Sept.
14th 2005)
The only thing a Barnsville woman has to show for a quest in a big win
with Video Lottery Terminals (VLT's) is a conditional jail sentence and
three years probation.
Ms. Barbara Suzanne Fleck 38, of Barnesville, was sentenced to six
months to be served in the community and three years probation after
pleading guilty to theft over $5,000.00 in Provincial Court in Hampton.
The Court heard Tuesday that Ms. Fleck stole $12,230.00 from her
employer, J.M. Hoovey Insurance, in order to finance a compulsive gambling
addiction.
Ms. Fleck’s lawyer, John King, told the court that his client was remorseful for what she had done and that her actions were the result of an addiction to VLT’s and lottery tickets.
She has been ordered to pay $500.00 a month in restitution until the amount is paid back.
Which once again begs the question of why do these Judges not feel in all their wisdom that they should order a mandatory rehab with the sentence handed down to this and other individuals?
Could it be that they know there is no such effective program and or no way for these individuals to get to the one location that even talks about this subject?
And as it is well documented in most past sentencing of criminal acts committed involving the use of alcohol and or drugs includes such an attachment to sentencing, i.e.: drinking and driving or causing bodily harm or theft and or destruction of property while under the influence of either of these addictions.
Yet VLT's are too a drug of choice as it is well documented that VLT's are indeed highly addictive and has been labeled The Crack Cocaine of Gambling which in turn hurts many others around you from Family members, your neighbors all the way to your employer and as all drugs of choice are harmful to your personal well being.
As is the proof of these types of crimes are on the rise at a higher level as time passes and all you have to do to see this increase is to read the' In The Courts section of your local newspapers.
But as of yet the only way of knowing we’ve had another suicide in our community from this addiction,
((Of which we have here in Saint John N.B. this past Summer)) is by word of mouth simply because it is too hard for Family members to come to grips with such a shocking and horrifying reality that someone in their family has been afflicted to this disease and the embarrassing societal title that it carries which by the way is just simply not the case.
I believe it is high time this Government steps forward and admits that this program is in total disarray and MUST be overhauled and Properly regulated without further delay as they are partly responsible for these community crimes as they are the ones running it and the ONLY ones benefiting financially at these addicted persons expense.
Families who have lost loved ones must step forward with their emotional stories. If you know everyone who went throught a emotional experience? Please tell them to phone me < Tim Smith > at 693- 9464. Thank You.
(More to follow soon).
44 comments:
Can we get some more details on what is wrong with the program? What would be helpful is if somebody were to call the government number, pretend to have a problem and find out what exactly the government does. Do they cover any rehab costs? Do they simply refer a person to gambler's anonymous? And if they do, why is that costing the province so much to do nothing? How exactly do they help somebody who comes to them for help?
Keep in mind though that this 'may' be a good thing for the woman. A conditional sentence is not jail time, however, the next question is where is she supposed to get the money to pay back her employer-$500 bucks is a lot of money per month, I doubt she'll have an easy time finding a job.
You hit the nose on the head, if the government refuses to recognize the addiction and provide support then thats a SERIOUS issue. What support IS available?
The sentencing certainly isn't that harsh, I know people who have stolen far less and are doing time-poverty causes addictions too-called food.
Doesn't Atlantic Lotto have to put a percentage of the profits into rehab programs? If so, where's it going? Even a small percentage of the profits would seem to be a significant chunk of change to get something effective started.
This is a portion of a statement from the Judge in the Brinks theft by an employee of that company as in your piece at the bottom of the blog.
((Judge Anne Jeffries told Mr. Ryan that he likely had an addictive
personality and as a result he must abstain from alcohol and playing or
watching VLT’s.
So what she is telling this man is, You can't go to most bars,you can't go bowling,You can't go to licenced Resturants,You can't go to your local legion,You can't go to convieneince stors with licenced snack rooms even a couple of Hotel lobby stores as in the one in Brunswick Delta etc,etc, You get the point.
Because your Government has put too much temptations in front of your face all day seven days a week yes even on your day of rest your Obsessive Compulsive Disorder has no time to rest so just lock yourself up within the walls of your home and wait for proper regulation to take effect which at the rate it's going should be in about 5 to 10 years.
Now if these machines were properly regulated to a specific location and had proper operating hours it would be a lot easier to tell him to stay away from that one location.
As Mr. Lord said: All in the name of Entertainment!!
Why not get rid of these evils called VLTs? It is like kicking a person in the head and then say "I will take you to the emergency, do not get upset, they will stich you up. It is your fault that you were in the way of my shoe."
Why have these temptations when we can do without them given the amount of harm they do? A person loses hundreds of thousands, his family and then he or she is told we have some soothsayers they will help you. Why not avoid this evil altogether?
And please do not blame the addict & victim. Our government is guilty like hell for facilitating this disaster and evil. Too damn greedy for revenues at the cost of people's lives.
jwmcq you summed it up quite well. When it comes to common sense unfortunately Lord government is completely bankrupt.
If certain wealthy corporations paid their fair share of taxes you wouldn't need VLTs. We give them more and more control over our economy and they take more and more out of our pockets. It's like a tape worm. They feed off the Host(you and me) by taking just enough to keep them growing but not too much as to kill us off. The problem is that the tape worm if not terminated will eventually kill the host.
Right now the worm is fast becoming the executioner for the Province of N.B. Those who have, have been vaccinated so as not to suffer the more devastating effects of poverty, addiction, etc, and the rest are being left fend for themselves.
For those who believe that the social services are our saviour I leave you with this thought.
"Some of the sickest individuals" work in the helping professions.
Where do we turn? An election would be a good start.
walk away from the vlts and don't drink when you are around them. it impairs judgement.
12:23 you are so right. This tape worm comes in various sizes and shapes and one of them is Bernard Lord.
1:06 PM. Easy said then done. It is like telling the one who is suffering from tape worm infestation to take luxatives and it will be flushed. It ain't that easy.
what's a luxative?
VICKI ROBERTSON:
Betting the lives of Canadians
CBC News Viewpoint | March 14, 2005
Video lottery terminals were first introduced to New Brunswick in 1989, and two years later Nova Scotians got a taste of them. But by the late 1990s, New Brunswickers were getting leery, and in 2001 a referendum was held to determine if they should remain legal.
With 40 per cent of the electorate voting, 53 per cent voted in favor of keeping the machines.
It was this resounding endorsement from 21 per cent of the population that led Tim Smith to the steps of the New Brunswick legislature in the bitter January cold. He felt a hunger strike was his only hope to raise awareness of the dangers of VLT gambling. His attempts at rehabilitation had failed, and he was at risk of permanently losing his seven-year-old daughter.
Unfortunately, Tim Smith's story is not unique.
Last year, there were eight gambling-related suicides in New Brunswick alone.
Divorces, job loss and bankruptcy are just some of the other side effects of compulsive gambling.
A VLT addict who stole money from her employer forced the company to close its doors last year.
The real victims in this case are the 400 disabled clients left without a job agency.
All gambling is habit forming, but VLTs are ferociously addictive.
Using a combination of technology and science, the machines wield their powers indiscriminately upon their prey.
Continuous access is a key ingredient of Skinner's theory, and most provincial governments have kindly allowed for wide availability.
Hour after hour, the gamblers sit – inserting tokens, pushing buttons, waiting for rewards. "The big payoff could be next" is their philosophy.
Nova Scotia's response to VLT addiction is to provide $752,000 a year toward a VLT Problem Gambling Fund through the VLT retailers and the gaming corporation. They call it "responsible gaming." This amounts to a miserly .4 per cent of the province's revenue from the 3,234 machines installed in 500 licensed establishments.
To put this in perspective, there are only 180 Tim Horton’s in Nova Scotia, and you can't throw a stone without hitting one. Both Nova Scotia and New Brunswick regulations state that payouts from VLTs must be a minimum of 80 per cent of the bets. For the past two years, New Brunswick has exceeded that minimum, averaging payouts of 95 per cent.
A quick survey of other provinces finds similar amounts: Quebec and Alberta – 92 per cent; Saskatchewan – 92.5 per cent; and Manitoba – 93.2 per cent. Nova Scotia has paid out less than 78 per cent for each of the past two years.
Inspectors carried out over 14,000 inspections, but only 11 in Nova Scotia last year. Faulty VLTs in this province must be as elusive as WMD in Iraq. My advice is to go cross-border gambling, where your VLT dollar goes further.
Research provides other interesting tidbits from Nova Scotia:
· In the fiscal year ending 2004, the losses for problem VLT players rose to $1,200 per month, up nearly 50 per cent.
· "At risk" VLT players also increased by 50 per cent.
· The Problem Gambling Help Line fielded 3,400 calls, and 95 per cent of them were related to VLTs.
Legalized gambling is often compared to smoking and drinking. If we're going to allow people to drink and smoke, then why not allow them to gamble? These vices do have things in common: they're addictive, have negative health consequences, and they provide revenue windfalls for the government.
In 1953, B. F. Skinner concluded that his operant conditioning theory might explain compulsive gambling. I think he was right. With combined provincial revenues from VLTs of more than $2 billion annually they are betting the lives of Canadians.
When you are constipated you would know even if laxative is spelled as luxative - smart a**. Or ask your doctor. Do not try to belittle the serious issue.
"With combined provincial revenues from VLTs of more than $2 billion annually they are betting the lives of Canadians." So true. That is the real problem. Governments are addicted to these revenues as Tim will say. And Lord government is ignorant and non-compassionate.
First let me say, so it's understood, every VLT should be ripped out of every bar and store in NB TODAY. We need to take the temptation away from the addict.
But as far as rehab goes, all the rehab in the world will do no good unless the addict wants it. VLT's are similar to alcohol in which both are legal so it makes forced rehab an impossibility. Addiction is not a disease, at least not in the traditional sense. Addicts walk away from VLT's, drugs, alcohol or whatever their vice is all the time. A person can say no. You can't say no to cancer or MS and it will go away. You can with addiction. Unfortunately addicts will still find thei fix, but to make it as tough for them as possible, remove the VLT's. Sadly something else will likely "fill the high" but society shouldn't make it easy. I'd take it further than Tim suggests of limiting the hours. Every government in this country should use that proverbial sledge hammer I keep seeing here and remove the machines. This isn't a Lord-bashing thing as some have made it. If I'm an addict in Sackville, I can slip across the border to Amherst easy to get my fix. Remove them all in Canada.
What is your point, Spinks? Why bother putting people in jail as someone else will to do it anyway? Another murderer will spring up in his/her place. Why have courts, judges and jails when people will continue committing crimes. Do you not think by removing temptation will reduce addiction?
As usual as you are making no sense.
People commit crimes right from the jail. Why put them there when they are going to find ways to commit crimes anyway. Is that the argument to keep VLTs. In Spinks dogma why change anything. If you elect a new government it is going to get corrupt someday too. Why have elections?
Spinks, you have very convoluted and distorted views on about everything. Will it get anymore absurd?
I can understand completely the problem with VLT in taverns etc... I saw many times the same people playing them night after night until they has lost everything. I have a cousin who commited suacide 3 years ago because of his gambling addiction. He had lost his wife and kids because of his gambling but still could not walk past a VLT without trying it out.
This is a serious problem. You start by putting in $20.00 and if it doesn't pay try another thinking it will pay the next time and so on. It is very easy to put a thousand dollars in those machines in no time at all.
I would vote on a reforandum anytime so that the VLT would be removed completely from the bars and restaurant. There is no need to have them there. If people want to gamble let them drive to Sydney, Halifax, PEI. If they have that far to go it might take the incentive out of the gambling habit. This is an addition for both young and old and the government should realize that they are collecting the poor man's money who is trying to make ends meet and thinks he might do it by playing those machine.
"If people want to gamble let them drive to Sydney, Halifax, PEI. If they have that far to go it might take the incentive out of the gambling habit."
5:37 PM you hit the nail right on the head. Just reduce the incentives. Any other argument that there is no need to remove VLTs because people will find other ways to gamble is total nonsense. It is crummy Lord government's argument.
Lord Government wasted money left and right, including on personal luxuries, now it is picking the pockets of the poor to make up the difference. Through VLTs, higher property taxes, higher gas taxes, higher fees, fines and other taxes. On top of that attempts are made to justify this unethical (and bordering on criminal behaviour) by giving all kinds of absure reasons. Lord and gang really take NBers for total suckers and fools.
One death because of VLTs is more than enough. It is not an accidental death like in a car crash. Now it is pre-meditated crime when we fully know what VLTs are doing. You be the judge who is the criminal in this case.
If I’m to understand the numbers in the CBC write up in these comments (2:05pm) it says with 40% of the electorate voting, 53% of that 40% voted in favor of the referendum which in REAL numbers the Actual overall vote was ONLY 21%.
One would see this as an absolutely shameful defense by the New Brunswick Government for Not making changes to properly regulate these highly addictive machines by cutting back on hours of operation or giving a day of respect to the families who have lost loved ones to this addiction other than for the sole purpose of exploitation to those who are heavily addicted to VLT’s.
Which proves that the New Brunswick Government is even more addicted than previously thought and that is a very disturbing and sickening. reality.
To give lousy arguments and lame excuses is the characteristic of Lord Government. As has been said many times that Lord Gov't does not do what is right thing to do but what it can get away with.
Tim, you are being too kind when you are asking for reduction of hours. These evil boxes, satan's work, must be removed completely. After that if people carry out illegal activities of providing VLTs then they should be punisheed like any other crime. By legitimizing VLTs, crime is being legitimized. Those who argue for VLTs have no conscience or it is Lord government which wants to steal money through these dacoits called VLTs.
I suspect 4:58 and 5:10 (one in the same?), you obviously didn't read my comments and merely saw the name Spinks. Too bad, we appear on agreement although where you're going with murders, etc, I have no idea and suspect no one else does either.
I stand by eliminating VLT's right across the country. Sorry folks, Amherst might be a long drive from Saint John but it's not from Sackville or Aulac. Turf them all and offer rehab to those who will accept it. To those who don't want treatment, there's not a thing we can do unless laws are changed and society can force them into rehab.
How do you propose to deal with the illegal machines that will pop up if the gov't ones are removed? Because it will NOT take long for them to pop up. They were here before legalized VLTs, and they'll be here after.
I'm not saying I disagree with you - but how do we stop it?
7:47 PM your question has been already answered. Treat it like any other crime. All crimes and illegal activities must be stopped the way we do with illegal drugs. Legalizing speed and other dangeroues illegal drugs is not the answer because these drugs will be sold anyway illegally according to your argument.
Spinks, you just use diversionary tactics to change the thrust of discussion. On the one hand you are saying VLTs should be eliminated but in the same breath you are saying it will make no difference because Aulac and Sackville are near by. Make up your mind and just do not muddy the waters.
Charge those who operate the "grey: machines and give them long prison sentences with big fines and seize anything which they have bought through the ill gotten gains. The punishment has to be huge to at leaset try and deter those who would get involved.
The problem we had before the legalization of VLT's is that government didn't have the will to deal with it so they took the easy way out. They normalized (legalized) it. It's the same route the federal Liberals have in the past considered with marijuana. The problem seems so insurmountable that they just normalize it instead of dealing with it head on. They're now looking at decriminalization of pot which is the first step towards legalizing it. No good cam come of letting your kids dodge potheads while walking down the street but I digress.
Gamblers will still find outlets and criminals will still figure out ways to provide those outlets, but as society we should make it as difficult as possible and the punishments must be more than slaps on the wrists.
8:07, once again you're only reading Spinks and not my entire post before you write. I have stated we should get rid of all VLT's across Canada...period.
I agree with your latest argument on punishment, Spinks. Now stick with it.
As far as treatment is concerned no one has questioned that. There must be treatment. Now some will go undetected under the radar which is normal with any addiction.But that is not a justification to not provide treatment.
If you believe in elimination accross the country then we do not have to worry about Aulac and Sackville.
Travelling for gambling any distance will be a deterrent.
Absolutely. With any type of illegal activity, enforcement is key as is treatment and/or education. The problem we have with gambling at least in the context of VLT's is that it's legal. Because it's legal, you can't force someone into treatment. So what do you do? Well the only thing you can - remove the problem. My concern still is that governments -ALL GOVERNMENTS are addicted to gambling revenues. If Lord is booted out tomorrow and the Liberal, NDP or whoever takes over there will still be state sponsered gambling. I guarantee if a government says we're removing VLT's, casinos will take their place. (they might come anyway)That's great for some communities which no longer have to deal with VLT's but horrible for others which sure bring in some revenue but deal with a host of new social ills.
Soo, we should change nothing? Since Liberals will get rid of VLTs and replace it with casinos which can be worse according to you. So why bother change the government even? Keep the things as they are? Is that your point????
My point would be to do as Tim does and try to influence the liberal party. I agree that I doubt VLT's will be illegal, so you try to influence the legislation as best you can. Tim's strike was for decreased hours, that's pretty reasonable and if people will actually write to the liberal party then they might pick it up as a campaign platform.
Problem is that somebody always loses, all the businesses will lose an income source and may even have to lay people off, in fact I'm pretty sure they will since I know places that went out of their way to get licensed just so they could have VLT's.
A casino isn't a bad idea when you think about it, in Ontario they have charity casino's, mostly in rural out of the way places which has brought in tons of bus tours from the province and out of country. Also, you don't get as many addicts since it's a heck of a lot harder to hop in your car and drive three hours to spend your money.
It's also easier to legislate. In Switzerland they brought in VLT's and casino's however, people have a gambling card which only lets them gamble so much at a time. After a certain amount of time you just get cut off.
There are also ways you can legislate VLT's. They SAY that 80% must come in payouts, but who is there to check whether that's the case? The other problem for banning them completely is that you can play them online now, which means tons of money will simply leave the province. The only way to enforce that is to monitor everybody's internet connection.
5:50pm, you really need to read all of my submission before commenting. I've been quite clear.
However for clarification, I'm merely saying consider the possibility that something else will replace VLT's and I don't agree with the last poster that casinos are the lesser of two evils. There are plenty of sad stories in Halifax and Sydney. Sure the tourists get taken too but it affects the locals as well. If we're a decent society we turf gambling period including things like the 649 and punish those who set up illegal gaming houses. However I'm a realist and know the 649 is here to stay but VLT's could go and casinos do not have to come into the picture in NB or on native reserves. State sponsored gambling is often called a tax on the stupid. A good, decent society doesn't do that to its citizens.
One thing we cannot afford to do is throw our hands up in the air and say nothing can be done therefore why bother. Your posts had that implication.
I certainly never meant not to bother. Merely stating the challenges and circumstances which exist and need to be overcome, dealt with, or at least addressed.
It looks you are either knowingly or unknowingly ignoring the fact that Lord Gov't has caused untold harm through its incompetence and unethical practices. Do you not see that hurt through statements of Charles Leblanc, Tim Smith, Mr. Bishop and many others. If you do and understand that hurt then how, in good consience, can you defend Lord and his government. Either you are highly insensitive or you have made it your life mission to defend Lord government no matter how incompentent and unethical it gets.
I do not know what happened before Richard Hatfield. Both Richard Hatfield and McKenna had serious problems as leaders but none was as unethical as
Bernard Lord, as incompetent as Bernard Lord. If a Premier gives a word to a person that he will do something or one of his ministers does, as happened in case of Charles and Tim, then takes 180 turns and does something else then what credibility is there.
In fairness I don't know of a government in history at any level that hasn't screwed somebody over or made everybody happy. That's why no one gets 100% of the popular vote.
As far as keeping your word, I wasn't there so it's impossible to pass judgement but I will agree if you give somebody your word on something, you follow through or you better have a darn good explanation (not an excuse). That's not just for politics, that goes for everybody. We'd all do better.
Virtually every vice can and is abused, it's ironic that on one blog Spinks says that he doesn't want government telling him how to live, then in the next he wants them to help with the ban.
The last study that was done of gambling showed that 80% of New Brunswickers took part in some form of gambling. Only a very small minority become addicted or abusive. Far more carnage is wreaked on society by having alcohol, but we've given up on prohibition.
However, there are very real ways of legislating these things. Getting rid of VLT's is definitely an option, there's no doubt about that. In Maine they had a referendum where VLT's were rejected 60-40, coincidentally, that's the percentage New Brunswick was in polls. I mentioned elsewhere that a PR firm in Saint John advertises on their website how their work got New Brunswickers to vote 'no', but only just barely.
Personally though, I am not in favour of banning every vice just because some people will hurt themselves by it. People who are going to gamble WILL gamble, I think it is far more moral to set up a casino where you can regulate and say 'ok, you have to stop now' rather than have New Brunswickers gamble online. When that happens, you lose their money and you don't get it back to pay for any programs. Plus, a casino is far more social, if you've been to one it is far different than a couple of desperate people huddled in a corner of a bar. It's a social setting where people have fun. They have roulette, blackjack, etc., so people have choices. It's virtually impossible to get addicted to roulette.
For all the talk how many here have actually contacted the liberal party and told them how they feel about VLT's. Should we be surprised that government ignores us when we ignore them?
Yes it is immorality of Lord government which makes it so stinking bad. It is a matter of public record that promises were made to study abuse of prescription drugs and promises were made on VLTs and not kept. Then there are many other cases that it is not so public.
10:12 PM. Spinks does change his positions more often then tides in Bay of fundy. There are constant ups and down. He seems to support a position and next he is opposing it. I think he just cannot help it. No wonder he gets so much hate mail so to speak.
No irony at all, 10:12pm. We're dealing with far different situations. Society should always help the downtrodden IF they seek the help. Helping someone seek help for gambling addiction and in fact taking away that temptation is one thing because it's a societal responsibility. Telling parents what kind of milk their kid must drink is something else all together.
Spinks, let us face the reality. All the agenda is controlled by corporations including lobby for milk products. Governments act like agents for these corporations, especially Lord Government. Parents are just caught in the middle. You just cannot blame parents. You are wrong there.
Milk lobby? I know there are vergetarian groups and the like who are against milk and think milke is a crock for kids (think PETA) but there are probably more studies that say milk is good for kids.
I fail to see where I'm wrong when parents pay for it and make the choice but we'll have to agree to disagree on that point.
There are far more alcoholics, why not take away all liquor temptation? There are far more obese people, why not get rid of all junk food? People can get killed riding a bike-do we outlaw bicycles? No, we regulate them to minimize the damage.
The milk argument wasn't anybody telling parents what they have to give their kids-it's about what should be available in school. You'll notice beer wasn't an option, our schools certainly don't give kids booze, or red bull, or Jolt. If a parent requests juice or water the school may or may not acquiesce, a school is not a restaurant. Governments don't give a rat's ass what parents give their kids, however, at a school it's a far different story.
To answer comment 10:14>>
Yes there has been talks with members of the Liberal party.
I had a brief meeting with Mike Murphy in May of this year on how to discuss several idea's toward responsible regulation and also had a couple of conversations with Roly McIntyre, Able Leblanc, Stuart Jameson and others on this issue and how I feel.
Including a couple of Conservatives who have a big problem with the current way these machines and this addiction are being handled by their boss Mr. Lord.
I also let my feelings on this issue be known to Mr. Shawn Graham himself through a call to action on the voice of the province this spring as well as in a brief verbal conversation when I was in Fredericton.As well I have emailed a few of them in the past on this issue and finally,
I will be going to Fredericton on Oct 14 to attend the Liberal Convention and am hoping to borrow a few sets of ears on this very issue as well as to get to know a few more names and faces as I am now a card carrying member of the Liberal Party.
Hopefully I will get a good reception and a few good words on how we might get together and hammer out something for next election that may work for the majority of those affected by VLT's and how we can make this work for a better future within our communities and stop this Governmental exploitation of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder of which I would very much like to be an active participant in that planning.
And those affected by VLT's might gain a part of their day back as they can truly feel free and unrestrained from this affliction along with a proper rehab program with easier access to these people.
Thanks for the question and will keep you advised on new info as warranted. Tim
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