People who struggle with gambling addiction will pay the price for Gordon Campbell's budget lie as the B.C. Liberals dramatically expand internet gambling in a hypocritical bid to boost government revenues.

In the past, the B.C. Liberals have been outspoken opponents of gambling, especially internet gambling:

• “There will be no Internet gaming conducted by the B.C. Lottery Corp. — period.”
  – then-Solicitor General and current B.C. Liberal MLA John Les (Hansard, Feb. 21, 2007)
• “The incidence of problem gambling where an adult makes a choice in a legal gaming establishment is lower than the incidence of gaming anywhere else. The highest incidence is in things like illegal gaming and Internet gaming, and those are the things we fight to stamp out.”
  – current Social Development Minister Rich Coleman (Hansard, Oct. 3, 2003)
• “Internet gambling is as addictive, if not more addictive, than other forms of gambling.”
  – current Healthy Living Minister Ida Chong (Hansard, June 21, 1999)
• “It's clear in the research that gambling addicts kill themselves faster and more often than any other type of addict. I was astonished to find that out, but gambling addiction kills people more quickly on average than any other type of addiction. I think it's because it destroys their self-esteem, having destroyed all of their assets, credit and pride.”
  – current Tourism Minister Kevin Krueger (Hansard, June 19, 1998)

Carole James and the New Democrats say the Campbell government's decision to increase the daily limit on internet gaming is just another post-election tax grab.

The New Democrats have been holding the Campbell Liberals accountable for breaking their word on the HST, and for backtracking on their election promises to protect health care, education, and other vital services.