British Columbia ranks worst in the country in providing supports for people suffering from gaming addictions. The B.C. Liberals have slashed supports for problem gamblers

Here are the facts:

• B.C. is set to pull in record revenue of $1.16 billion from lotteries, casinos, bingo and online betting this year. Despite this increase in revenue, the B.C. Liberal government only plans to invest $4.6 million of last year’s revenue — or less than half of one per cent of its profits – in programs to counsel and assist troubled gamblers.

• B.C. has the lowest level of funding for problem gaming in the country, compared to other Canadian provinces. (Times Colonist, Oct. 20, 2009)

• Last year, the B.C. Liberal government increased online weekly spending limits from $120 to $9,999, an 80-fold increase. Irene Tang, a gambling-addiction counsellor, has said that the “BCLC’s increased weekly limit will pose a challenge for those already at risk of exceeding their personal limit.” (Globe and Mail, Aug. 20, 2009)

• B.C. is the only province cutting problem-gambling services. In last autumn’s post-election budget, the B.C. Liberals cut funding to $4.6 million from $7 million.

• The B.C. Medical Association 2009 report Stepping Forward: Improving Addiction Care in British Columbia stated that 33,000 British Columbians have a severe gambling problem and another 128,000 have moderate problems with gambling. The number more than doubled between 2002 and 2005.