United Church Social Policy Positions

The initial decision to open up gambling in the US rested on the argument that the state's safety net and poor communities - especially aboriginal communities - would benefit. In Canada, similar arguments have been advanced, especially for rural, low-income, and aboriginal communities. Although some communities have benefited through jobs, many individuals have paid an extremely high price.

Studies done in Alberta document that aboriginal communities have been especially hard hit. A 1994 study conducted by aboriginal peoples themselves reported that "...prevalence of problem and compulsive gambling among Natives may be twice that of the general population."[7]

A similar study by Native Americans in North Dakota found there were 4 times as many people suffering from problem and compulsive gambling as there were in the general population. The Alberta study also compared the amounts of money that aboriginal problem gamblers lost over against the losses of non-aboriginal problem gamblers. The "win" for the province and for operators from aboriginal problem gamblers was 3 times the "win" from non-aboriginal problem gamblers.

7. "Spirit of Bingoland", Nechi Training, Research, & Health Promotions Institute. Edmonton, 1994.