Released on January 27, 1995
Municipal Government Minister Carol Carson and Eldon Lautermilch,minister responsible for the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority,
today announced adjustments to the video lottery terminal (VLT)
program, continuing the government's commitment to address the impacts
of the introduction of electronic gaming.
"VLTs were first introduced to Saskatchewan 18 months ago, at the
urging of the hospitality industry and a number of rural communities,"
Lautermilch said. "This was a new form of gaming for the province, and
from the beginning the government has been determined that VLT
expansion would be carefully controlled and regulated, and any social
impacts would be dealt with in a thoughtful and sensitive way. After
assessing the impact of 18 months of electronic gaming on the
Saskatchewan community, we are announcing a number of decisions today
respecting VLTs and related programs."
The following adjustments will be made:
ù effective immediately the number of VLTs approved for
installation in the VLT network will be reduced from 4,000 to
3,600; a 10-per cent reduction in the approved limit;
ù effective April 1, 10 per cent of the government's net VLT
revenues will be designated for local communities;
ù effective April 1, the province's education, treatment and
prevention program for gaming addiction will be expanded to
further implement recommendations of the Minister's Advisory
Committee on the Social Impacts of Gaming; this program will
be the most extensive of its kind in Canada.
"The provincial government has asked the Saskatchewan Urban
Municipalities Association, the Saskatchewan Association of Rural
Municipalities, and the Saskatchewan Association of Health
Organizations to advise us on how best to distribute 10 per cent of the
government's annual VLT revenues for maximum benefit to local
communities," Carson said.
"I want to make it clear that the commitment we are announcing today is
to share 10 per cent of the government's net income each year. In
other words, if revenues went down the communities' share would go down
but if revenues increased the communities' share would also increase.
"VLT revenues are already shared with communities through programs
financed by the provincial budget. However, by targeting some of this
revenue more directly, we are able to enhance the benefits communities
receive by giving them a greater say in how the money should be
allocated. Our objective is to place this money into the hands of
local people to serve community needs in more direct and tangible
ways."
This is the third in a series of decisions made by the government to
deal with the impact of the introduction of electronic gaming. In
December the lottery licence fee for Sask Sport was reduced by up to
$1.7 million, assisting more than 1,200 sport, recreation and cultural
groups. Also in December, the government announced the elimination of
gaming licensing fees for charitable gaming, making $8.5 million
available to charitable groups.
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For more information, contact:
Lisa Thomson Maureen Boyle
Liquor and Gaming Authority Municipal Government
Regina Regina
Phone: 787-1721 Phone: 787-5959