“I never understood how something I liked so much could do so much harm”: former gambling addict

REGINA – Almost every single night, you knew where to find Susan.

“I just liked playing bingo,” she said. “It’s such an adrenaline rush.

“It’s just an escape, of getting away, or something to do.”

Susan, who didn’t want her last name used, got into the Nevada tickets that are sold at bingo halls, and that is where she spent most of her money.

“My day would look like ‘How am I going to get the money?’” Susan said.

She borrowed money from friends and family, but Susan never got to share her winnings with them, putting it all back into her addiction.

“The most I ever won was $1,500,” she said. “I ended up coming home with $7.

“I never ever understood how something I liked so much could do so much harm.”

At The Caring Place, an addictions treatment centre, executive director Joy Johnson says they have been busy.

“Our councillors deal with alcohol and drugs, but recently we’ve seen an increase in clients coming in for gambling problems,” Johnson said.

At the facility, it is all about getting people help for those urges before it goes too far.

“The person could eventually become homeless, with no income, no place to live,” Johnson explained. “No family, nothing.”

There are eight casinos in Saskatchewan. Six of them are operated by Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) while the two others are operated by Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA).

In 2011-12, SIGA had a net income of $79.2 million. Casinos Regina and Moose Jaw raked in $52 million. SLGA made $183.5 million off 4,000 VLTs.

“It’s a catch 22,” said Donna Harpauer, the minister responsible for SLGA. “The province understands that this does affect families and yet it is a substantial income.”

So where does the money go? For the provincially-operated casinos, much of it goes into the General Revenue Fund. As for SIGA –

“That money goes to First Nation’s development and First Nations communities,” Harpauer explained.

There are no recent statistics, but a 2002 survey found up to 13,000 people in Saskatchewan had a serious gambling problem, with up to another 122,000 adults at risk of developing one.

That was one of the many factors into the province’s decision last year not to legalize online gambling.

“I always say never say never,” said Harpauer. “But I have told different people that have asked about it that it definitely is not something we’ll revisit for at least a year or more.”

There is one case being investigated by the Ministry of Justice, after a Saskatchewan man created his own online gambling website.

These days Susan works at an addictions treatment centre, using her experiences to help others.

“They always say ‘well, you don’t understand’,” she said. “Well actually, I do. My worst day here is still 10 times better than my best day gambling.”