A non-profit organization in Alberta that provides awareness about gambling addiction has had their funding from the provincial government cut prematurely.
The Problem Gambling Resource Network (PGRN) in Edmonton, which started operating in 1993 after the Alberta government allowed video lottery terminals, receives about $130,000 annually from the province.
But those funds are now being reallocated as the province looks to allow private gaming operators under a regulated system.
Ray Reshke, the executive director of the PGRN, says the non-profit had another year left in its agreement with the government.
“We entered into contracts for things like space, to have them coincide with the term end of the contract with the government, so we are going to end up paying some penalties,” he tells CityNews.
Reshke says the network provides support through its drop-in centre and phone line, along with helping people enrol in the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis voluntary self-exclusion program, which bans them from casinos.
Reshke said he was told the funding was cut because the organization doesn’t provide direct services.
The same reasoning was given to four disability advocacy organizations that also had their government funding contracts ended this month. Those cuts totalled at least $920,000.
What do these groups do?
Organizations like Alberta Gamblers Anonymous (AGA), who help members seeking help in-person and through Zoom, say now isn’t the time to pull funding from organizations like PGRN.
“He (PGRN) gets the schools, they’ll hold a meeting and invite us over and we come just as support,” said Allan G, an AGA member in Calgary.
Andree Busenius, a presenter with the PGRN, has struggled with gambling addiction in the past. She says the organization doesn’t hold a position on gambling but instead tries to educate people on what they should look for.
“I won’t stop doing that, I just won’t be able to do that as much or frequently,” she said.
“It’s that direct point of contact for a lot of individuals who can connect with someone who is coming in providing some information. Maybe there is not the same type of fear or shame or attachment.”
She said her school presentations include identifying elements of gambling, such as mystery boxes for purchase in video games, in an effort to build awareness.
Alberta government reallocating funds to ‘front-line delivery of services’
The provincial government confirmed to CityNews it is reallocating PGRN’s funding to what it calls “frontline delivery of services.”
“These funds are being reallocated to focus on front-line delivery of services to directly support Albertans in their pursuit of recovery,” Recovery Alberta spokesperson Jessica Conlin said in an email.
“At any time, Albertans can call the Addiction and Mental Health Helpline to connect with trained professionals for access to services.”
She didn’t answer questions about whether other organizations in the addictions sector were also having their funding cut.
Opposition NDP mental health and addictions critic Janet Eremenko said cutting funding to the gambling network is irresponsible, especially since the United Conservative Party government generates over $2 billion in revenue from gambling.
“They have a fundamental responsibility to step in and create a tangible way for people to point to a specific line item in the budget that says this is what they’re doing to address and prevent problematic gambling and gambling addiction when they’re making that kind of revenue from the gambling itself.”
She also said it’s concerning because Alberta is eyeing legislation that would allow private companies to set up online gambling operations in the province, similar to Ontario.
Online gambling “is a big tidal wave on the horizon, and these kinds of cuts are going to mean that the consequences of that are going to be bigger than ever,” Eremenko said.
Government-owned Play Alberta is currently the only licensed online gambling site in the province, although sites like Bet365 that have offshore licences can also be accessed.
Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally, who’s responsible for regulating the gambling industry in the province, said Tuesday that Alberta’s online gambling market is like the “Wild West,” but no firm decisions have been made.
He said following Ontario’s model would make online gambling safer in Alberta.
“Online gambling will never be a safe activity, but there are ways to make it safer,” he said. “We have a fiduciary responsibility to put Albertans’ safety first, and we take that very seriously.”
Reshke said the government funding, which represents 95 per cent of the network’s annual budget, runs out at the end of February.
“We are pretty much shutting down the door if we don’t hear anything,” he said.