United Church Social Policy Positions

General Councils have taken action on numerous occasions on gambling as an industry with an impact on Canadian society. The policies adopted by General Councils were developed in different historical moments. Each of them reflects issues that people within the church were concerned about in response to the public policy debate at the time and to changes in the gambling industry.[1]

The most comprehensive report to a General Council was done in 1977. The 1977 report is clear that the issue is a matter of social responsibility rather than only a matter of personal morality. General Councils in 1977, 1980, and 1986 called on federal and provincial governments to address the impact of the gambling industry on society by these measures:

"...more responsible ways of taxation for support of educational, cultural, recreational, health and welfare programs than is provided by lotteries;

...complete public accountability and disclosure of all lotteries, with particular reference to costs of administration and promotion as well as detailed listings of funds used; ...institutionalized advertising;

...the right [of employees of financial institutions] to decline to sell ...tickets...."

ROP, 27th General Council, 1977, pp. 314-323

"...to withdraw [government] support of organized gambling in our country;"

ROP, 28th General Council, 1980, p 751

"..[to recognize] the increasing difficulty faced by church groups which are eligible for public funding, but choose not to accept funds which have lotteries as their source."

ROP, 31st General Council, 1986, p. 135.

The current interest in the issue in the church is driven by two factors:

1. The rapid expansion of the gambling economy in Canada, with changing public policy and
2. The pastoral care and human development challenges that congregations are facing in the wake of gambling expansion in their communities.

This policy updates existing church policy by speaking to the major trends in Canadian society:

• Flouting of the law on gambling in Canada;
• Government-driven expansion of gambling;
• Intrusion of the private sector in gambling;
• Transfer of financial responsibility for public services from the tax base to the losses of gamblers.

1. The word "gaming" is the term preferred by the gambling industry over "gambling". Both words refer to the same kinds of activities in Canada - lotteries, casinos, charitable gaming, and pari-mutuel wagering (e.g. horse racing). Once these activities became legal under limited conditions, the promoters began changing the public image of the industry from a sleazy activity conducted by people beyond the law to a controlled "leisure" activity like any other. They therefore began using the word "gaming" instead of "gambling." This report uses the traditional term, except where it refers to "charitable gaming", the term used in Canadian legislation.