Alberta Allocates CA$2.4m To Gambling Addiction Treatment
Alberta has allocated CA$2.4m to Brick House Recovery Centre to expand gambling addiction treatment as the province develops its regulated iGaming market.
The Alberta government has announced CA$2.4m in funding for Brick House Recovery Centre to expand treatment and recovery services for people experiencing gambling-related problems.
The funding comes as Alberta develops its regulated iGaming market, which launched in mid-July with a commitment to direct 1% of proceeds towards addiction treatment.
Brick House Recovery Centre operates locations in Edmonton and Calgary and also provides virtual services to people across the province. The organisation offers recovery-focused treatment to individuals and their families.
Funding Provided Ahead Of Operator Contributions
Dale Nally, Alberta’s Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction, described the CA$2.4m grant as an advance on funding that will ultimately be supported by contributions from licensed gaming operators.
The province opted to provide the funding before receiving the 1% allocation from iGaming proceeds, allowing treatment services to be expanded while revenue from the regulated market begins to flow.
Nally said the grant represents the first stage of Alberta’s approach to addressing problem gambling under the new framework, with operators expected to contribute towards the cost of treatment.
Alberta Projects CA$76m In iGaming Revenue
Alberta expects to generate CA$76m in revenue from iGaming this year, representing the province’s 20% share of revenue generated by regulated operators.
The Alberta iGaming Corporation currently lists 31 sites as legally operating within the province.
The government has previously said its decision to regulate the sector was partly driven by the amount already being spent by Albertans with offshore gambling operators.
Betway, which has been approved to launch in Alberta but has yet to begin operations, previously reported an 8% increase in revenue from the province before the regulated market opened.
Regulating Existing Online Gambling Activity
Alberta has positioned its iGaming framework as a way of bringing existing online gambling activity into the regulated market rather than creating new demand.
The framework is intended to provide greater oversight of operators and consumer protections while allowing the province to generate revenue from regulated gambling activity.
The commitment to allocate 1% of proceeds towards addiction treatment forms part of the province’s responsible gambling measures.
Addiction Treatment Contribution Under Review
Nally said the government currently expects the 1% allocation to provide sufficient funding for intensive outpatient treatment related to problem gambling.
However, the contribution could be reviewed as Alberta’s population and regulated iGaming market grow.
The province is monitoring developments in both online gambling and the land-based casino sector to assess future treatment requirements.
Nally said the government would consider increasing the contribution if the existing allocation does not provide enough funding to meet demand for gambling addiction services.
Support Services Available
Dr Lovneet Hayer, co-founder of Brick House Recovery Centre, said the organisation is focused on providing recovery-oriented treatment for individuals experiencing gambling-related problems and their families.
The centre aims to provide access to support and treatment as Alberta expands its responsible gambling services.
The provincial government has also advised people experiencing gambling-related problems to contact Alberta’s 211 service, which operates 24 hours a day and can direct individuals to available support services.
