BCLC Laundry
The incompetence of the BC Lottery Corporation in its failed launch of an Internet casino combines the government's traits of deceit and moral bankruptcy. BCLC, the government's gambling agent, initially said that its site crashed due to its popularity; now it admits that it was shut down because gamblers were able to bet with other people's money - kind of like what Campbell does with your tax dollars. The Minister responsible, Rich Coleman, appears to be in hiding and not available for comment.Numerous media outlets said that BCLC: "added casino games such as blackjack, roulette and craps to its PlayNow.com site." As one of the few who managed to explore the new site before it crashed, I can swear that it does not offer craps. That is not surprising since craps offer the best odds in a casino and the government's website is all about attracting losers.
At least as serious as the government's failed entry to Internet gambling is the concurrent announcement that BCLC is subject to over $670,000 in fines from the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada, FINTRAC. BCLC's CEO dismissed the fines for over 1,000 violations as due to technicalities and said his agency would appeal, but last year BCLC increased its weekly online gambling limit from $120 to $9,999, one dollar short of FINTRAC's $10,000 reporting limit. Its apparent attempt to evade FINTRAC with its Internet gambling limits makes its claims about technical errors suspect.
In defending criticism over FINTRAC's fine, BCLC's CEO Michael Graydon said that the gambling agency files up to 50,000 FINTRAC reports every year. Think what that means! A report only needs to be filed for transactions of $10,000 or more, so BCLC is admitting that it handles over a half a billion dollars a year in major transactions. Most folks don't cash out for $10,000 or more when they visit a casino. No wonder it is accused of laundering drug money, and no wonder it is suspect for setting its Internet gambling limit at $1 less than what is required for FINTRAC reports - not that they pay attention to FINTRACT's rules.
I naively thought that the BCLC Internet casino crashed because it offered over $15 million in enticements so as to increase gambling, but it turns out that it is more likely that it crashed due to incompetent privacy provisions. Don't worry; it won't be long before it is back up and busy laundering drug money.
July 19, 2010
From Liar to Evil
The BC Liberals and Gordon Campbell have gone from being rejected as liars to being rejected as evil. Their reputation as liars was established following their obvious deceit in the 2009 election over the issues of the size of the deficit ($495 million vs. $2 billion) and the introduction of the HST. They trumped that and became evil by introducing a government sponsored Internet casino.Once-upon-a-time Campbell and his colleagues swore that they opposed expanded gambling; they said video lottery terminals are addictive and Internet gambling is the crack-cocaine of gambling. Now they are using the power of government to sell that crack.
In its news release, the spin from the government said there was $100 million a year at stake. It stated that: " ... online gambling is a $20 billion dollar industry. British Columbia's share of this global market is estimated to be $100 million a year that was going to illegal, offshore gambling sites." Minister of Housing and Social Development, Rich Coleman indicated his government wants to repatriate that $100 million a year.
Next we might hear that the Campbell government wants to repatriate hundreds of millions that are being spent on dope or encouraging us to drink and smoke so the taxman can rake in ever more revenue! What the government is attempting to do with its Internet casino is no different.
Within hours of the launch of the Campbell Casino, the website crashed. The spin from the government was that the crash indicated its popularity. In reality it crashed because the BC Lottery Corporation, the government agency responsible for expanded gambling, sent its 140,000 registered "PlayNow" users an email saying that they would receive a $10 free credit for playing at the new Internet casino, plus they could get $100 in free "match-play" if they bought in for another $100, as could all new players. Multiply 140,000 by $110 and you get $15.4 million; add to that whatever BCLC draws in with its full page ads to attract new gamblers. Of course, the government expects the gamblers to lose the "free" match-play cash and many millions more. The point is that any casino or store in the province would crash if it offered to give away over $15 million as an enticement to customers.
I have submitted freedom of information requests to both Coleman's ministry and BCLC for any evidence they have to substantiate the claim that British Columbians spend $100 million per year on illegal Internet gambling sites. Even if the government's claim is true, it is unacceptable for government to actively promote gambling. It is not a case of taxing something that would occur anyways; unlike taxing liquor and tobacco, the government is in the business of actively encouraging people to gamble more - to the tune of offering over $15 million in incentives to get gamblers hooked on Internet gambling. That takes the BC Liberals beyond being accused of being liars to definitely being absolutely evil.
July 14, 2010
Arnold and Gordon
Who
could have imagined that the biggest thing California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
and BC Premier Gordon Campbell would have in common is their unpopularity?When they were smiling for photo ops as they pushed their green wash, it appeared that Campbell was trying to piggyback on Schwarzenegger who became governor of California after his predecessor, Grey Davis, was recalled in 2003. Fast forward 7 years and, according to a Field poll released today, just 22% of voters approve of the Governor's performance and 79% believe California is seriously on the wrong track. A day earlier Angus Reid reported that the Campbell government had fallen to just 23% support, and 49% of those who live in Liberal held ridings would definitely sign a recall petition (plus another 18% who would probably sign one) and of those who previously voted Liberal 35% said they would definitely sign a recall petition. Tied in the bottom of the popularity polls, Campbell's government could end the way Schwarzenegger's began with a recall campaign. How's that for a photo op!
People's anger over the HST seems to have wiped other issues off the political map. Angus Reid reported: "Echoing Premier Gordon Campbell's growing unpopularity, British Columbians identify the economy (24%), health care (15%), and leadership (14%) as the province's main challenges." To the disappointment of advocates for social issues and the environment, almost nothing seems to matter except the hated tax. That cannot be good for public policy, but despite all efforts to change the channel (by advocates and the Campbell government) the remote is stuck in one position.
One desperate hope for the BC Liberals was summed up by Vaughn Palmer in his July 13th column when he wrote about "some serious grumbling about Opposition leader Carole James". It is important to note that no elected New Democrat has publicly criticized James, as has no serious NDP supporter. New Democrats approach leadership races like gladiators going at each other with meat axes at a distance of two feet. Members of the party know that and are not about to initiate a leadership race when they have twice the support of the BC Liberals. Anyone foolish enough to challenge James in the midst of the Campbell government destroying itself wouldn't stand a chance to replace her; the first out that gate is guaranteed to finish dead-last.