The three-month closure of VLTs and casinos in the province likely means the province has lost more than $400 million in revenue..The gambling industry was shut down March 17 as the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic spread around the world. It is set to finally reopen again on Friday..In 2018-19, the latest figures available from the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission showed Albertan’s gambling meant government revenue of $1.736 billion..Assuming gambling rates have remained the same, the figure extrapolated with a three-month loss would equal more than $430 million..Also losing out over the last three months are charities that booked a casino night as a fundraiser.. POLL: Many Albertans say they will ignore Christmas COVID lockdown .“In 2018-19,a total of $347 million was earned by charities through charitable gaming activities (casino, raffle, bingo and pull-ticket events and activities),” said Heather Holmen, spokeswoman for the AGLC..“There were 19,455 charitable gaming event licences issued (casino, raffle, bingo and pull-ticket events).”.But Holmen said charities who have lost their spot the last three months may not be out of luck..“They are not lost opportunities and once gaming operations resume, our Licensing team will work with charities to reschedule them into their events,” Holmen said..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com.Twitter.com/nobby7694
The three-month closure of VLTs and casinos in the province likely means the province has lost more than $400 million in revenue..The gambling industry was shut down March 17 as the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic spread around the world. It is set to finally reopen again on Friday..In 2018-19, the latest figures available from the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission showed Albertan’s gambling meant government revenue of $1.736 billion..Assuming gambling rates have remained the same, the figure extrapolated with a three-month loss would equal more than $430 million..Also losing out over the last three months are charities that booked a casino night as a fundraiser.. POLL: Many Albertans say they will ignore Christmas COVID lockdown .“In 2018-19,a total of $347 million was earned by charities through charitable gaming activities (casino, raffle, bingo and pull-ticket events and activities),” said Heather Holmen, spokeswoman for the AGLC..“There were 19,455 charitable gaming event licences issued (casino, raffle, bingo and pull-ticket events).”.But Holmen said charities who have lost their spot the last three months may not be out of luck..“They are not lost opportunities and once gaming operations resume, our Licensing team will work with charities to reschedule them into their events,” Holmen said..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com.Twitter.com/nobby7694
