Evaluation of the government policy on advertising gambling
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Date
1997-07
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Abstract
Gambling has been a social activity throughout history. As a business, gambling has been both conducted and prohibited by governments. Gambling allows operators to acquire large quantities of capital and the industry is prone to corruption. In Canada, the government has been involved in the gambling industry to attempt to control its development and prevent corruption in the industry. Although government revenue from gambling is only one percent of total revenue, the government and its agent the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) are keen to expand gambling within the province. The benefit of increasing gambling activity is the increased government revenue and the opportunity to bestow rewards on various groups and individuals. The social costs of gambling expansion include the costs of increased crime, gambling addiction, and reduced revenue from other business sectors. It is the advertising of gambling that is the concern of this paper. For other demerit goods like alcohol and tobacco, strict advertising codes are in effect preventing these industries from using advertising to raise addiction levels and increase related social costs. Strict control of the advertising of gambling is maintained in all segments of the gambling industry with the exception of the provincial lottery, BCLC. Arguments are made both in support and in opposition to the continued advertising and promotion of gambling by BCLC.
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Gambling, Advertising, Addiction, Corruption