City council made the right decisionWednesday when it tentatively approved a decision to send a letter to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commission, expressing the city’s interest in developing a casino.
The idea of a casino in Ottawa has the strong support of Mayor Jim Watson, many councillors and many community businesses and organizations. Others have voiced concerns that a casino will foster gambling addictions and lead to a host of other problems.
So far, it appears that most Ottawa residents support the development of a casino in the city. According to an Ottawa Sun survey, 58 per cent of people who voted think the city should have a casino, even though no location has been identified.
Why? Well, according to the survey, 51 per cent of people listed “the economic spinoff in terms of job creation” as a main benefit, while 40 per cent said that it would be a financial bonanza for the city.
While those numbers are not representative of all of Ottawa, they point out that a sizeable majority of voters want a casino in the city. The idea has also been received with enthusiasm from local businesses, because they see a casino as bringing in tourists.
But it’s not just businesses that would benefit. The reason Watson supports the development of a casino is because it would bring the city extra revenue that currently goes to the Casino du Lac-Leamy in Gatineau.
It’s no secret that the city is currently in need of major infrastructure projects and repairs or that it has less and less funds to maintain and update all its services. The added revenue that the casino would bring would lessen the city’s financial burdens.
At least that’s the logical assumption. Of course, the city must conduct a study of the economic and social impacts that this new venture would bring, then decide whether or not to go forward with the plans.
One way or another, the city hasn't approved final plans to build a casino, and this expression of interest is not the final say on the matter.
But it seems that with the Rideau-Carleton Raceway and the Casino do Lac-Leamy nearby, gambling addicts have access to gambling already.
It makes little sense to not allow the development of a casino for that reason. The Rideau-Carleton Raceway will continue to operate with or without a casino in Ottawa and the Casino du Lac-Leamy in Gatineau serves the same purpose. Therefore, gambling addictions are likely to neither be lessened nor increased by the presence of a casino in the city (as opposed to across the Ottawa River).
That’s not to say that we should dismiss gambling addictions – that is a real problem that the community needs to address by looking at underlying socio-economic factors and other indicators.
We should offer support services for those with a gambling addictions and offer counselling to those who need it.
However, when the city is strapped for funds and there is an opportunity to bring in more revenue to support the city’s services, then why not take the opportunity?