The idea of setting up an online casino among the four Atlantic provinces to cash in on profits during the pandemic is not something being considered by the government of Newfoundland and Labrador.
The Atlantic Lottery Corporation floated the idea as an opportunity to reap millions in revenue for each province but only if they acted quickly during the pandemic
ALC reportedly saw big spikes in online gaming revenue in the early days of COVID-19, leading officials to believe an online casino for the entire region would be very lucrative. They cited the closure of in-person casinos and the fact that more people were confined to their homes as the driving factors.
A regional online casino is not a new idea, but one that was pushed more forcefully last year with ALC urging the four provinces to go all-in before it was too late and lockdowns due to the pandemic loosened.
(File photo.)
Finance Minister Siobhan Coady confirmed the idea was presented to her during a meeting last year but she says that’s as far as it went—as far as she’s concerned.
Despite guarantees and the temptation of badly-needed revenue for this province, Coady says the known social impacts of gambling—particularly VLTs—made it a non-starter for her.
Meanwhile, the House of Assembly adjourns today until May 31, when Members will sit until the budget is introduced and passed in June.
The House is then expected to adjourn until the fall.
