Alberta Provincial Government Cuts Funding to Problem Gambling Resources Network
Our best sports betting sites hope to soon find their way into a second Canadian province, but this news emerging from the frontrunners is disappointing.
The Alberta provincial government has reduced the funding deal that it had provided to the Problem Gambling Resources Network (PGRN), an Edmonton-based non-profit organization (NPO) that educates and provides resources to battle gambling addiction.
The decision, conveyed to the organization this month, has left PGRN facing the possibility of closure after a record service period of almost three decades. It's a major shift in the normal news we see about responsible gaming, particularly from the best sportsbooks in Canada.
Problem Gambling Resources Network
Since its inception in 1993, PGRN has relied on government funding agreements to keep its doors open. According to Executive Director Ray Reshke, the government provides approximately $130,000 in annual funding, a large percentage of the organization's budget.
Reshke told reporters the government justified the cut by stating PGRN does not provide direct services in the Alberta sports betting market.
The education program, Reshke said, has been the main focus of PGRN to date, sending paid volunteers who have lived experiences with gambling addiction into schools, workplaces, and community centers to raise awareness about the risks of gambling and ways to prevent problems and support recovery.
The organization also assists individuals in enrolling in the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) voluntary self-exclusion program, which allows people to ban themselves from casinos and gaming facilities as a measure to control their gambling behaviors.
One volunteer, Andree Busenius, has been actively involved in delivering educational sessions. She disagrees with the government's assessment that PGRN does not provide direct services.
She told reporters that the demand for PGRN's presentations is crucial, especially among school-age children. She commented, “One of the things I often hear back from students is that they can list off 10 or 15 online gambling sites. But if I ask them (to name) three places to get support for addiction in Alberta, they struggle.”
The cut comes as Alberta is preparing to be the second province in Canada to launch a regulated sports betting market and already has an Alberta online casino market, which will likely increase the need for problem gambling support.
Alberta government going after many NPOs
This cut to PGRN fits within a larger trend of cuts to NPOs at the provincial level. Earlier this month, the same rationale was used to halt government funding contracts for four disability advocacy organizations, representing at least $920,000 in total cuts. Until recently, these organizations provided support, resources, and advocacy for people with disabilities.
Reshke warned of the long-term implications of these cuts. He argued that by removing funding for preventative and educational services, the province may be setting the groundwork for higher social and economic costs later.
One of the measures available to support individuals in controlling their gambling was the AGLC's Voluntary Self-Exclusion program, which was promoted and partially facilitated by the PGRN. By helping people enroll in this program, PGRN has directly supported at-risk individuals.
The Alberta government hasn't publicly spelled out what would replace the gap left with the end of funding to the PGRN. Community leaders and stakeholders are demanding a revisit of the decision, saying it's important to continue supporting preventive services.
Following the removal of the funding, PGRN is looking at avenues available for reapplication and other funding opportunities. Reshke said that the organization, however, faces big obstacles resulting from the abrupt termination.
