BestCraps.com

Expanded online gaming launched in B.C.

Posted on July 17th, 2010

News Sponsored by Online Vegas Casino

Rated 5 Stars by BestCraps.com

Read Review

Visit Casino

Download Software

————————————————

The British Columbian government has announced the launching of its plans to offer more online games as part of its online gambling expansion project. This move will make the province the first in the region to offer legal online casino play. A total of 75 new online games are to be offered on their website. B.C. Lottery Corp, as overseen by Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing and Social Development owns and operates the website. Michael Graydon, President of B.C. Lottery Corp. is also expected to grace the announcement event, which is to be held at the Granville Island.

The additional games are divided on categories that include games like bingo, sports betting, casino games and lottery. Roullette, poker and blackjack are also available. The old B.C Lottery Corp. website has been taken down since Wednesday, but announcement of the relaunch was displayed on the site’s home page.

Last August, B.C. Lottery Corp also increased the weekly limit for players from a mere $120 weekly cap to a drastic increase of $9,999 weekly cap. Around the same time, BCLC was anticipating users to be playing casino-style games online. The games are then tailored to be accessible not only from remote computers but even on portable gadgets like the BlackBerry, iPhone and the iPad. B.C Lottery Corp clarified that it is their policy to require members to be duly registered, and whose age and addresses be properly identified and verified. This is the prerequisites before a player can open an account that allows a weekly cap of $9,999.

The B.C. Government said that one of the benefits of the project is that a locally regulated gaming website will be able to offer better support for problem gaming. The newly relaunched site includes links visible to users that take them to support programs dedicated to individuals seeking help for gambling addiction and other related problems. The site also has safety features to guide and ensure proper online behavior and constant reminders on how to gamble responsibly.

Shane Simpson, New Democratic Party critic for housing and social development feels otherwise. He thinks the province has failed miserably so far in dealing with individuals with gambling problems. He believes that the expanded online gambling announcement will only make things worse. “It really is all about expanding that revenue stream, which on the face of it is not a bad thing, but it seems to be being done with very little concern for the impact on problem gamblers, and very little concern about the criminal element,” Simpson said. He also adds the potential for other crimes.

He continued to say ;“It’s irresponsible for the government to go into these massive expansions of these programs without dealing with the issues around problem gambling and the criminal element. All the evidence to date shows they’ve failed miserably in terms of those programs and the effectiveness of those programs.” The government previously made significant reductions on the funding of the Responsible Gambling Strategy and the Problem Gambling Program. Funds were reduced to $4.6 million from the previous $7 million fund, a drop of 34%.

Coleman said that during the time of the funds reduction, the ministry he handles will continue to offer basic and core services that include clinical advisers, 24 hour help line and casinos will have responsible gaming officers. Gambling in British Columbia was able to generate $2.52 billion from the previous year according to the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch. The government was said to have reported a net revenue of $1.07 billion after costs, expenses and payouts. The B.C. Government is also working on other provinces to create a nationwide gambling network.

The Atlantic Lottery said in May that BLC and Lotto Quebec will soon be a launching a similar online format to be followed by other provinces within the next 18 months. It is not sure if the announcement just made by the company is in accordance to this plan, but in any case B.C is now on a pioneering edge among other provinces on the projected online gaming platform laid out for the region.