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Institute of Marriage and Family Canada – October 29, 2010

Fall is a busy new season for everyone and it is no different for us here at the Institute of Marriage and Family Canada.

This month we are releasing our latest research publication entitled Government gambling and broken families: How problem gambling effects families by Derek Miedema. This piece reviews how government sponsored gambling in Canada is causing problems for individuals and their families. Today provincial governments are seeking to expand into new areas that were previously illegal (eg: online gambling). Governments are “addicted” to the revenues that gambling provides.

Problem gambling could affect as many as 12 to 25 per cent of Canadians. If gambling becomes more available in the home, the damage could grow. Governments must stop such expansions, while taking responsibility for the damage that problem gambling causes. Taking responsibility means “responsible gambling initiatives” must be run independently of any effort to maximize revenue, since having one organization do both is a conflict of interest.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this paper. Please forward your comments to: [email protected].

Our fall matching donor program has been very successful. If you would like to financially contribute to the Institute of Marriage and Family Canada, you may do so through our secure website: www.imfcanada.org. If you would prefer to forward a cheque, please do so at the address listed below. It is only through your support that we are able to continue this work and ensure that Canada’s decision makers have access to the latest research.

Thanks for your past support. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours truly,

Dave Quist
Executive Director