Friday, October 07, 2005

TIM SMITH VLT'S REVENUES ARE DOWN BY MILLIONS????

Just read this story and my congratulation goes to Tim Smith!!!!!

NB Telegraph-Journal | Provincial News As published on page A1/A2 on October 7, 2005

Smoking ban blamed for drop in VLT revenues Loss in the millions of dollars is the first decline in recent memory!

By Kathy Kaufield
Telegraph Journal

Anti-VLT crusader Tim Smith and the smoking ban are being blamed for the significant drop in video gambling revenues this years.

TIM VLT!!!
charlesandtim


Finance Minister Jeannot Volpé said Thursday the money New Brunswickers are plugging into video lottery terminals is down by at least "a few million" dollars in the first half of the fiscal year.

Charles 04_07_05 056

"The money this time is lower than what was expected for the first time in many, many, many, many years," he said.

Neither the minister nor his department officials said they could provide any specific figures until the end of the fiscal year, but Mr. Volpé categorized the drop as "quite a bit."

Net VLT receipts in New Brunswick have been on the rise for the past four years, with revenues topping out at $143 million during the 04/05 fiscal year. In 2001-02, VLT receipts came in at $113 million and increased to $119 million the next year. Receipts jumped to $136 million in 2003-04 when the province added new machines.

Mr. Volpé suggested the recent media attention to gambling addiction may be one of the reasons.

TIM COLD!!!

During the last legislative session, Saint John resident Tim Smith staged two hunger strikes in front of the legislature in a bid to raise public awareness about VLT addiction and to push the province for changes to its VLT policy.

Tim, May 4, 2005

Atlantic Lottery Corporation spokesperson Darlene Doucet said Thursday the corporation can't explain the sudden turnaround in VLT revenue.

HAMMER VLT!!!

She guessed that it could be related to the province's ban last fall on smoking in public places or on the recent hike in gas prices.

She said New Brunswick bar owners have told the corporation their VLT revenues have dropped by about 20 per cent since the smoking ban last October.

Ms. Doucet said in other jurisdictions where smoking was banned, VLT revenue has dropped for the first six months and then bounced back. New Brunswick hasn't seen that bounce back after six months.

"There's no real way of knowing why," she said.

Ms. Doucet said soaring gas prices have left many people with less money in their pockets to spend on lottery tickets and VLT machines.

She said Newfoundland bar owners are also reporting a 20 per cent drop in VLT revenue. That province implemented a smoking ban last year too.

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New Brunswick's finance department is in the midst of reviewing its entire gambling policy, including discussions on VLTs and racinos.

Mr. Volpé said the review of the VLT policy is complete and he said the province may not change it.

"To tell you the truth, we've got a fairly good structure already in New Brunswick," he said

tim vlt

"Maybe we will keep what we've got already have in place."

The minister said the review is still on-going in terms of its stance on racinos and casinos.

"Bingos and racinos and all those that are a little more challenging I would say.

"We are not there yet for those ones," he said.

Mr. Smith pushed the province to limit playing hours or reduce the number of VLTs.

New Gaurd at the Legislature[1]

Newfoundland announced a plan this spring that would reduce the number of VLTs in the province by 15 per cent over five years.

Quebec is removing more than 2,500 VLTs from neighbourhood bars and putting them into centralized gaming parlours.

Meanwhile, the Ontario government has imposed a moratorium on casino expansion, British Columbia has said it won't put VLTs in bars and lounges, and Alberta has set a goal to reduce the number of locations with VLTs up to 15 per cent.

In Nova Scotia, the provincial government has said it plans to reduce the number of VLTs and their hours of operation, but is not considering an outright ban.

paul

Manitoba seems to be moving in the other direction, with recent plans to add to its stock of VLTs.

- with files from Canadian Press

53 comments:

Anonymous said...

Smoking is heavily linked to lower middle class individuals, as is VLT use, so it's not surprising that people will stop going where they can't smoke. It's more addictive than Heroin. It's not as if there aren't other places to gamble, especially if you are online, which means some of that cash could be leaving NB altogether.

Something that the press and government seems too stupid to understand is: maybe it isn't ONE of those reasons, maybe it's ALL of those reasons. Duh. It's not like all smokers and all VLT users formed a union and then said "ok, here's what we're ALL going to do, and here's WHY we're going to do it" People are different and have different motivations. When the blatantly obvious escapes both the journalists of the province and the people in government, it really makes you wonder what kind of mentally deficient boneheads work in the province.

Please note that "mentally deficient boneheads" in no way is meant to slight any group or individuals who may associate them with 'special accomplishment' individuals, or run of the mill boneheads.

Anonymous said...

Volpe is going to use the excuse of revenues dropping from VLTs, to not to change anything. This bonehead has on his lincence plate LWR Tax - lowwer taxes. VLTs are a form of tax. Bunch of liars.

Anonymous said...

Have you not thought that maybe just maybe that the gamblers are broke or have committed suicide. If the gambler was a senior and has already spent his/her life savings then they could never recoup that money in their lifetime so obviously its gone and is never coming back. Neither are the poor souls who took their lives because of those dreadful machines. In my opinion it has more to do with being broke or dead then it has to do with smoking!

Anonymous said...

Lord government will squeeze you for money until you die. In the old days at least masters kept their slaves alive so that slaves were available for continued service.. Lord has gone a step further in stupidity.

Anonymous said...

Well I don’t see what the big deal about vlt is. In Halifax there is a big casino.
What would you do if you were living in las vagas or reno?
We don’t have that here.
Whats next? close all liquor stores so alcoholics wont have any temptations?
Stop selling tobacco so smokers wont be able to smoke?

If a alcoholic cant control himself or a smoker cant stop smoking then its there problem.

If a person is so weak that he will spend all his money on a machine then tough.
Its not my fault if that person doesn’t have any self control.

when a gambler runs out of money and is flat broke then he wont have any money to spend on anything.
So lets wait until there broke and we wont hear them complaining.
Problem solved!

Anonymous said...

Hear hear 6:14pm.

Anonymous said...

I dont have a problem with vlt
I put a few bucks in them once in a while and sometimes I win sometimes I lose.
But I have self controle to stop after a few bucks.

Anonymous said...

6:14pm why not ask Bernard Lord to open brothels too. They make money and they are in Vegas too. Sex addicts can have their go at it. Shame on you for shameful statements.

Anonymous said...

These machines cost about 5 thousands dollars each.
The owner of the machine and the owner of the establisment where the machine is located split the proffit after the goverment takes there cut witch is close to 50% and after the payouts are deducted.

If these machines were made for you to make lots of money playing them those machines would never pay for themself.

You have to be realy stupid to think your going to make money playing those machines.

Anonymous said...

If your a sex addict then get yourself a few girlfrends or go on these dating websites. You will have all the sex you want and it wont cost you anything.
And incase you dont know there are brothels in every cities in N.B.

Anonymous said...

Absolutely, and if some people get hooked on heroin that's there problem, why can't I buy opium at the corner store. Or drive as fast as I want. If some people can't drive that's there problem, my car can go 180 so I'll damn well drive that speed if I want to.

And just because SOME people are stupid enough to get hurt with guns that's their problem. I should be able to buy an AK-47 at the local Zellers if I want to, it's a dangerous world out there.

In fact, I'm a responsible adult, I should be able to drive without insurance. And just because some people are greedy doesn't mean I am, I should be able to go onto crown land and cut as many trees as I want to.

In case you missed the sarcasm, a casino is actually far preferable to our situation. At least casino's bring in tourists- who says they want to take a bus trip to New Brunswick to go gamble at the corner store. Casino's bring in good jobs, they bring in entertainment, and industry. The setup we have now just encourages desperate people to gamble.

Of course there's always people like the above who think that being poor and desperate is a person's fault, just like being a smoker is their fault, even though both are extremely addictive.

Central casino's also make it possible to strictly regulate gambling, in NB they don't care how long you gamble, but even if some bartender cut you off you just go down the street. Other jurisdictions with brains have casino's which strictly enforce how long a person can play. A casino also means that less addictive games can be used. Of course we can be like the "Survivor" clones above and pretend we don't live in a society and poor people should just take the kicks in the teeth they must so richly deserve (in some people's eyes).

Anonymous said...

8:22 & 8:26 pm you are the same person. Do you run a brothel as you know so much about them? Partner with Bernard Lord because he is in desperate need of money. He may be able to use pimps like you.

Anonymous said...

BLA BLA BLA

VLTs are legal
driving over the speed limit is against the law
driving without any insurence is against the law.
heroin is against the law.
opium is against the law.
AK-47 is against the law.

VLTs ARE LEGAL
The people voted for them to stay.

Anonymous said...

They are legal because we have illegal government which made it legal.

Anonymous said...

The people voted for them to stay
Halooo?
What dont you understand?

Anonymous said...

Refrendums which have biased questions and improperly conducted do not count. Helloooo.

Anonymous said...

Excuses excuses.
The people voted for them to stay so they stayed.

Just because a few people wasted all there money on them and are crying about it makes no difference.
The people voted for them to stay so there here until the people vote them out.

Nuff said

Anonymous said...

To Nuff said, You are the one who is giving all the excuses. There is no excuse to keep these evils called VLTs around.

Anonymous said...

When did the government become illegal 8:41pm? You might not like them but it's legal or did I miss something on voting day?

Anonymous said...

If they remove them we will have to pay more tax.

It does not mater to people that are on welfare because they dont pay income tax, tax on there prescription drugs, eye glasses,property tax,etc

Anonymous said...

9:26 they won election of 2003 through lies. It has not stopped lying since.

Anonymous said...

Then pay taxes. Let governments justify those taxes but do not pick the pockets of those who are already poor. Picking pockets through these VLTs. Also Lord and his minister of finance are lying about lower taxes when they are taxing people through VLTs and lotteries. Typical of Lord government.

Giving excuses again,eh!

Anonymous said...

Since when does any politician gets elected and not lie?

They all lie. It doesn’t mater if there liberal or pc.

I have never met a honest politician have you?

You can take a honest man, elect him and you have just created a liar

Anonymous said...

Is there a government in Canada that doesn't have lotteries or VLT's or casinos? NB is no worse or better than anywhere else.

Anonymous said...

Well if your poor then why play those machines anyway?

If you are poor then you shouldnt have enough money to play them anyway.

Anonymous said...

Well said 9:47 PM

Anonymous said...

NB is worse off than other jurisdictions. Nova Scotia is reforming because of good doctor there. We are the worst that way compared to Nova Scotia alone. Some jurisdiction in U.S. have made VLTs illegal. These evils must go.

Anonymous said...

Yes all politicians exaggerate the truth somewhat but Bernard Lord is the worst liar of them all.

Anonymous said...

There nice shiny and colorfull and makes nice music.

I say lets keep them

Anonymous said...

Who says Spinks is not back. Now he is defending VLTs again. He goes back and forth. The good old Mr. Contradictions.

Anonymous said...

Just because something is 'legal' doesn't mean it is excused from controversy. Take a look at the longest discussions at this website, they are about things that are legal: abortion and gay marriage, and yet people drone on and on against them. Their argument (and I think that they at least have a point) is that just because a government says something is all right doesn't make it ALL- Right. Nothing in society stays the same, every day it is different.

People voted for them to stay and even if you accept that, it was four years ago. What about the thousands of New Brunswickers who have just come of voting age-where is their vote? Why isn't there another referendum? People may have SAID to keep them, but that doesn't mean they SAY to keep them, people change their minds all the time.

This website is all about how the people think the government is wrong. If government is actually a democracy, then these things are open for discussion, if you think it's a dictatorship and as long as the government says it's right, then it is, that's your business. For the rest of us, we don't buy such arguments because we KNOW whose interests the government acts on behalf.

This time last year gay marriage was illegal, today it isn't. Yet gay marriage is the same thing as it was last year, which means the government determined that in fact it was wrong and rectified it. Many here also think that New Brunswick, being the only province to not grant any rights to roomers and boarders, is also not right. It's interesting that nine other provinces also don't think it's right. And yet the government still keeps it that way. So, keep defending the status quo, but some aren't content to grant our government divinity (despite the name) just because it sits in legislature.

Anonymous said...

There all the same.
whoever takes his place will be just as bad

Anonymous said...

9:59 - you are right scrap VLT's and gay marriages.

Anonymous said...

VLTs are killing people. Destroying families. What is the comparison here 10:03.

Anonymous said...

I think that most of them that claims it ruined there life had there life prety much ruined before they were playing the vlt

Anonymous said...

There is one that lives in my appartement building.
His breath smells like poop!

Anonymous said...

Give him a tic tac or something next time you see him.

Anonymous said...

10:18 you must be very close to him that you can smell his breath. How is the relation going??

Anonymous said...

ha ha
You guys are too much

Anonymous said...

What is a tic tac??

Anonymous said...

VLTs are here to stay!
There mine!
They keep my piggy bank full!

thanks for your support.

Anonymous said...

Now look Mr. Piggy, take your piggy bank and go away. Leave us alone.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Lord is what I wish to be called. thanks

thanks for your support

Anonymous said...

Ok Mr. Lard.

Anonymous said...

Mr.Lord not Lard

You probably need glasses and expect the people of n.b. to pay for them.

thank you for your support

Anonymous said...

Yes I do need glasses Mr.Lard I mean Mr. Lord. You get all that money for travels and fishing at Larry's Gulch. What about a pair of glasses for me?

Anonymous said...

I allways say that we shouldnt help those that wont help themselves.
so
No glasses for you!

thank you for your support

Anonymous said...

Yes I do need glasses Mr.Lard I mean Mr. Lord. You get all that money for travels and fishing at Larry's Gulch. What about a pair of glasses for me?

Anonymous said...

Get off your computer, stop complaining about your lot in life, go get a job and then you can afford glasses.

Anonymous said...

BUT Mr. Lard or Lord you are the biggest free-loader. When are you going to get a real job and take your hands out of our pockets? All I asked for is a pair of glasses.

Anonymous said...

You would like to make the money I do but you wont because your a uneducated unimployed bum.

thanks for your support.

Anonymous said...

Sorry to say but the drop in VLT play has nothing to do with Tim Smith. The reduction is due to the smoking ban.....plain and simple.
The government gave the people a choice and the people chose to have the VLT's. So people have a choice...play or not. Pretty simple if you ask me.

Anonymous said...

Tim made people aware that some people have a problem with vlts but I dont think he made them stop playing the vlts.
The no smoking law did.
All bars have lost a major amount of customer because of the smoking ban.

The bars are selling 40% less alcohol now. Its because of the smoking ban.