United Church Social Policy Positions

This policy was to address, in particular, the increasing use of gambling and gaming by governments to generate income.

1. Background
   On the basis of letters from presbyteries and petitions from conferences to the 36th General Council, the Executive of General Council asked the Division of Mission in Canada to prepare a policy update on gambling in Canada.
2. Existing church policy on gambling as a public policy issue
   General Councils have taken action on numerous occasions on gambling as an industry with an impact on Canadian society.
3. A Revolution in the Gambling Industry
   Gambling today is no longer simply a matter of a raffle on a hand-made quilt in a church basement or the traditional bingo night for a local charity.
4. Gambling and the Law in Canada
   The current boom in gambling in Canada depends on exemptions in the Criminal Code, which allow for legal gambling under certain circumstances.
5. The Intrusion of the Private Sector
   Cash-strapped provincial governments have become increasingly eager to act as partners with commercial gambling operators in return for part of the profits.
6. The Lure for Vulnerable Communities
   Although some communities have benefited through jobs, many individuals have paid an extremely high price.
7. The Economic and Social Impact of Gambling Expansion
   Decisions about gambling expansion usually take place far from their impact.
8. The Case of VLTs and Internet Gambling
   Video lottery terminals or VLTs have galvanized public attention on government-sponsored gambling for several reasons.
9. Charity Casinos
   In Ontario the public debate on the merits of expanding gambling to include VLTs was muddied by government plans to create so-called charity casinos.
10. Challenges to Faith posed by Gambling Expansion
    The expansion of gambling is the public policy issue on which the membership of the United Church has been most persistently outspoken during the 1990s.
11. Policy Recommendations
    The following policies are recommended to the Executive of General Council as a basis for further work by church courts and people in addressing gambling as it presents itself in the late 1990s.

A copy of the policy [PDF: 12 pp/66 KB], as a single document, is available as a PDF.