MICHAEL ( TANKER ) MALLEY COME CLEANS WITH HIS PAST ADDICTIONS TO VLT'S!!!!!!

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NB Telegraph-Journal | Provincial News
As published on page A1/A2 on March 15, 2006



Independent MLA 'almost lost everything' to VLTs

Tanker Malley calling for stricter limits on the machines

(File/Telegraph-Journal)

Michael (Tanker) Malley says that he played VLTs almost daily when he
was a school bus driver, earning only $15,000 a year.

By Shannon Hagerman
Telegraph-Journal

FREDERICTON - Michael (Tanker) Malley counts himself lucky video-lottery terminals didn't destroy his life.

"Years ago, I had a problem, but I dealt with it on my own," the Miramichi-Bay du Vin MLA revealed Tuesday during a legislative committee hearing.



Mr. Malley said he quit the machines "cold turkey" after playing them
almost daily while he was a school bus driver, earning only $15,000 a
year.

"Put it to you this way, I almost lost everything," Mr. Malley said.



The Independent MLA is calling for stricter limits on VLTs in New
Brunswick saying he knows first-hand how addictive they are.

Mr. Malley said he spared himself from a life-long addiction when he made a choice to quit playing.

These days, he occasionally buys a
break-open lottery ticket from the corner store, but he keeps on walking
whenever he encounters the flashing video-lottery machines.

"I caught myself before it went too far, or I could have been in (trouble)," he said.

Others haven't been so lucky, Mr. Malley said.



"I have watched friends put their entire pay cheques in," he said.

"There are people near and dear to me (playing) who are earning $800 or
$900 a month and have a few kids home to feed."

The MLA, who often speaks proudly of his humble roots, said he hopes others will be inspired to curb their addiction after they hear about his own private struggle.

"It takes a man to admit you have a problem," he said.

"After awhile I just stopped. It just wasn't for me. I didn't have any more money in my pocket.

I think overall I've come to my senses and realized that it's not for me."



Mr. Malley, who quit the Conservative caucus last month, says the province needs to do more to protect vulnerable players in New Brunswick.

Mr. Malley said all VLTs in the province should be shut down on Sundays
and the province should develop safeguards to limit how much money
individual players can pump into the machines on a daily basis.

He's suggesting a $20 maximum spending limit per day.

He's particularly interested in a Nova Scotia pilot project that assigns video lottery players an access card that tracks playing habits and can restrict
excessive gambling.



The MLA revealed his history with gambling after provincial MLAs on the
legislature's Crown corporations committee spent Tuesday questioning
officials from the Atlantic Lottery Corporation and the provincial
Lotteries Commission.

Michelle Carinci, president and CEO of the Atlantic Lottery Corporation, said the agency spent about $1 million in 2004-2005 developing "responsible gaming" policies.

The Department of Health and Wellness spent about $750,000 in 2005
offering addiction services for individuals addicted to gambling, a
government official said Tuesday.

Ms. Carinci said research has shown removing VLTs isn't the solution to
curbing addiction.

"The experts tell us the problem is no more in the machine than it is
in the bottle," she told the committee.

Ms. Carinci said the best way to avoid problem gambling is through education.

"We believe that an informed player is then able to make an informed choice and that is through harm reduction and perhaps prevention in the long run," she said. "The important thing isn't how much we spend, but how effective we are with what we spend."

Saint John-Fundy MLA Stuart Jamieson said $1 million isn't enough to
spend on curbing addiction, particularly since the corporation spent $8
million advertising its traditional lottery programs in 2005.

The corporation's annual report shows video-lottery terminal revenues
increased to $89 million in 2005, up from $83 million in 2004.

"It doesn't line up to be responsible when you look at all the profits
and then the money that's spent on problem gambling," Mr. Jamieson
said.

Ms. Carinci said the corporation is expecting lower profits in 2006,
for the first time in 30 years.

She linked the reduction to a decision by the New Brunswick and
Newfoundland governments to restrict smoking in provincial bars and
restaurants.

There are about 1,000 video-lottery terminals in operation in New
Brunswick. The machines are restricted to provincial bars and licensed
restaurants.

The provincial government is studying whether to further restrict
machine use. Details of the government's policy may be found in a gambling
discussion paper that will be presented to the Conservative cabinet next
month.

The provincial government is considering whether to hold public
hearings on the discussion paper, which is also expected to highlight the
provincial government's position on racinos.