Nova Scotia is currently conducting a provincewide online gambling poll aimed at studying the behavior of residents who play online casino games, local media reported.
Michael Samson, a Nova Scotia Minister responsible for the Gaming Control Act, said that officials want to inform themselves about the number of Nova Scotians who gamble online. Currently, Internet gambling is not regulated within the province’s borders. Mr. Samson said that they have been discussing the possibility to eventually regulate it. However, he noted that officials first need to collect the necessary data.
Mr. Samson told local media that he and his colleagues want to have better understanding of how many residents of the province play online poker and other popular casino games and how often they do this. Once officials gather the important data, they will be able to discuss more thoroughly whether it would be a good idea for online gambling to be regulated. Furthermore, they will be able to address issues that may have been caused by online casino games.
The research is prompted by the Nova Scotia Provincial Lotteries and Casino Corporation, a Crown-run corporation regulated under the Nova Scotia Gaming Control Act. Stacy O’Rourke, a spokeswoman for the organization, said that it is of the utmost importance for officials to gather the necessary information about the state of online gambling, the number of customers, and other related matters. Thus, they will be able to take due measures in case there are any gambling issues that need an immediate reaction.
Ms. O’Rourke also explained that since 2011, when the Responsible Gambling Strategy was adopted, the corporation has been focused on the effects online casino games may have on residents’ health and well-being. Economic and general social impacts have also been paid special attention.
Ms. O’Rourke revealed that the poll is led by the provincial Health Research Foundation and is conducted by experts from MQO Research. The study is primarily focused on what type of gambling Nova Scotians have engaged in over the past twelve months. Мore special attention is paid to online gambling activities and how often residents of the province play online poker and other popular Internet casino games.
