Puzzling is perhaps the kindest description that can be given to Abbotsford council’s 5-4 decision Monday night to disallow more slot machines at the Chances Community Gaming Centre.
We understand long-standing concerns in regard to gambling. It is a recreational activity that certainly does have downsides.
For some people it’s addictive, devouring income, tearing apart families and relationships, and in the most severe cases, leading to criminal activity to support the habit.
There are moral arguments to be made to keep gambling out of a community entirely.
Except, of course, that those who wish to gamble will simply go to the nearest city that does allow the activity. And the same thing will apply here in respect to Monday’s vote.
Abbotsford chose to allow slot machines in 2009 at the former bingo hall.
Now, with public demand outpacing available slots, Chances wanted to bring the existing maximum of 125 machines up to 300 over time. The operation was seeing revenue walk away, as gamblers took their money to other facilities.
Ultimately, the city and its various charitable groups that receive nearly $1.4 million from the gambling proceeds, are also losing out.
The point is, gambling is already here. We don’t agree that more machines available translates into more money being taken from local family budgets, as opponents assert.
That money will be spent anyway, at nearby casinos in Langley, Surrey, or in Washington state. In fact, a 2010 survey at Chances revealed that nearly half of the players come from out of town.
The gambling genie is already out of the bottle in Abbotsford. Limiting the number of slot machines now makes little practical sense.