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Gambling in Manitoba: A Brief History of the Development of Gambling in Manitoba
Adult Gambling in Manitoba
Problem Gambling in Manitoba
Youth Gambling in Manitoba
Problem Gambling Among Youth
AFM Problem Gambling Services
Gambling in Manitoba: A Brief History of the Development of Gambling in Manitoba
1986 - The Winnipeg Convention Centre becomes the permanent site for seasonal casinos in Manitoba.

1989 - Crystal Casino opens in Winnipeg in the Fort Garry Hotel (Canada's first permanent casino).

1990 - Sports Select is introduced in Manitoba.

1991 - Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs) are introduced in rural Manitoba.

1992 - VLT's are introduced to First Nation Reserves.

1993 - VLTs are introduced in Winnipeg.

1993 - McPhillips Street Station Casino and Club Regent Casino open in Winnipeg.

1993 - The Manitoba Lotteries Foundation, which had been in place since 1984, becomes a crown corporation called the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation (MLC).

1993 - The Addictions Foundation of Manitoba (AFM) is authorized to establish a problem gambling program.

1993 - AFM establishes the first 24 hour Problem Gambling Helpline in Canada.

1997 - The Manitoba Gaming Control Commission (MGCC), an independent gaming commission tasked with regulating and controlling gaming activity in the province, commences operations.

1998 - AFM with assistance from MLC, MGCC, Manitoba Hotel Association and the Manitoba Restaurant & Foodservices Association, establishes the Problem Gambling Assistance Program offering Casino management and VLT site-holders training in problem gambling awareness.

1999 - The Crystal Casino closes and expansion is completed on both the McPhillips Street Station and Club Regent casinos.

2002 - The Aseneskak Casino opens in The Pas (Manitoba's first First Nations-owned casino).

2003 - MLC, in conjunction with AFM, opens the "Responsible Gaming Information Centre" at McPhillips Street Station Casino, becoming the first Casino in North America to offer an on-site responsible gaming information resource to Casino guests.

2005 - The South Beach Casino opens 45 minutes north of Winnipeg (Manitoba's second First Nations-owned casino).

2006 - MLC in partnership with AFM, launches the "Responsible Gaming Awareness" training for Lottery Retailers, the first program of its kind in Canada.

 

Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs) in Manitoba

  • Manitoba is one of eight provinces in Canada that has VLTs.
  • There were a total of 5,589 VLTs in Manitoba in 2008/2009.
  • There were a total 515 VLT sites in Manitoba in 2008/2009.

Casinos in Manitoba
There are four permanent casinos in Manitoba offering gamblers both slot machines and various table games:

  Club Regent Casino McPhillips Street Station Aseneskak Casino South Beach Casino Total for all Manitoba
Electronic Gaming Machines 1,201 1,189 160 600 3,150
Tables 32 28 7 16 83

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Adult Gambling in Manitoba

Based on a 2006 adult general population survey involving 6,007 residents of Manitoba, the AFM found the following results:
  • 86% of adult Manitobans report having gambled in one form or another over the past year.
  • The most popular forms of gambling were as follows:
Form of Gambling % Who Had Played
Raffles 75.3 %
Lotteries 74.4 %
Scratch N' Win Tickets 41.7 %
VLTs 27.7 %
Slots (in casinos) 23.9 %
Card games not in a casino 18.0%
Bingo 12.9 %
Sports Pools 12.2 %
Horse Racing 7.3 %
Sports Select 6.6 %
Table Games (in casinos) 6.4%
Outcome of Professional Sporting Events 6.1 %
Internet Gambling 1.5 %

 

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Problem Gambling in Manitoba
Based on a 2006 adult general population survey involving 6,007 residents of Manitoba, the AFM found the following results:
  • An estimated 1.4% of adult Manitobans are problem gamblers, based on Canadian Problem Gambling Index (CPGI) scores.
  • An additional 4.7% of adults are moderate risk gamblers, based on Canadian Problem Gambling Index (CPGI) scores.
  • An estimated total of 6.1% of adult Manitobans may be experiencing problems related to their gambling, based on Canadian Problem Gambling Index (CPGI) scores.

back to top »Youth Gambling in Manitoba

Based on a 2005 high school study involving 6,676 students in grade 7 to senior 4, the AFM found the following results:
  • 38% of students in grade 7 to senior 4 reported gambling in the past year.
  • The most popular forms of gambling among youth were as follows:
Form of Gambling % Who Had Played
Cards for Money 15 %
Sporting Events 15 %
Raffles/Silent Auctions 15 %
Bingo 9 %
Lottery Tickets 8 %
Computer/Video games 8 %
Scratch Tabs/Break Opens 8 %
Dice 6 %
The Internet 4 %
Sports Select 3 %
Video Lottery Terminals 3 %
Slots (in casinos) 2 %

 

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Problem Gambling Among Youth
Based on a 2005 high school study involving 6,676 students in grade 7 to senior 4, the AFM found the following results:
  • An estimated 2.3% of high school students are problem gamblers (based on participants' scores on the DSM-IV-J-MR gambling screen).

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AFM Problem Gambling Services
AFM Problem Gambling Services delivers a variety of Education programs, consisting of courses and workshops. As well as a variety of Rehabilitation services to Manitobans who are experiencing problems related to their gambling and to those who are concerned about someone else's gambling.

Here are a few fast facts about the services AFM Problem Gambling Services delivers:

AFM Problem Gambling Helpline
The AFM operates a 24 hour Problem Gambling Helpline.

In the fiscal year 2008-2009, the AFM Problem Gambling Helpline received a total of 2,992 calls. Of these calls:
  • 1,341 were calls for help.
  • 122 were calls for information.
  • 730 were gaming related questions.
  • 799 were prank or hang-up calls.
The 1,341 calls for help came from both problem gamblers and from people concerned about someone else's gambling:
  • 74% of calls were from gamblers.
  • 26% of calls were from people concerned about someone else's gambling.
Of the calls from gamblers:
  • 57% were from male gamblers.
  • 43% were from female gamblers.
Of the calls from people concerned about someone else's gambling:
  • 32% were from males.
  • 68% were from females.

AFM Rehabilitation Programs for Gambling Clients
In the fiscal year 2008-2009, AFM Rehabilitation programs admitted a total of 538 clients.

Of the gambling clients:

  • 46.8% were male.
  • 53.2% were female.
  • 44.6% have called the Manitoba Problem Gambling Help-line.
  • 78.7% have had problems related to gambling in the past.

AFM gambling clients responded as follows when asked what form of gambling was most problematic for them:

Form of Gambling % Who Identified This Form of Gambling as the Most Problematic for Them
Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs) 77%
Slot Machines (in casinos) 11.7 %
Casino Table Games 5.9%
Bingo 0.4 %
Other/No form 5%

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