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Two Groups Opposing VLTs Unite to Bring VLT Issue into Election Debate |
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Written by GameOverVLTs
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Wednesday, 31 May 2006 |
Two groups advocating for the elimination of VLTs in Nova Scotia today pressed provincial political leaders for leadership on the issue. The groups criticized the political parties for emphasizing family in their campaigns while neglecting the fact that government-operated VLTs are destroying families from one end of the province to the other.
Terry Fulmer, spokesperson for GameOverVLTs.com observed that two out of the three major parties reference the importance of family in the campaign slogans. He commented, "In one we hear, 'For today's families.' In another, on billboards and in newspaper ads, we've been reading, 'Our families. Our future. Our home.' If the party leaders are genuine in the importance they place on the family, they would move quickly to eliminate these highly addictive machines."
VLTs or video lottery terminals are acknowledged by problem gambling experts around the world as the 'crack cocaine' of gambling due to their highly addictive nature and the considerable destruction they cause in society. Despite regulatory changes brought about by the government last November, VLT-related depression, suicide, personal financial ruin, embezzlement, and destruction of families continue at high levels.
Speaking on behalf of a Coalition of Faith communities and organizations led by the Interfaith Council of Halifax, John O'Donnell called on leaders to show courage, compassion and do the right thing. He stated, "The VLT issue is, essentially, an issue about the ethics of political leaders who think it's OK to actively promote devices that are designed to take more and more money from those who have less and less to give because of their addictions. It's about politicians who would rather extract easy money from VLTs, than think for a minute about the Nova Scotians from Glace Bay to Yarmouth who are losing their careers, reputations, homes, marriages, families, and some their very lives."
The groups presented research showing that 150,000 adults in Nova Scotia (20% of the adult population) report personal exposure to problem gambling through either family, close friends or co-workers. A staggering 78.9% of this exposure can be blamed on VLTs.
GameOverVLTs.com commissioned a poll last year which showed that Nova Scotians want VLTs banned by a ratio of 2:1.
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