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Gateway responds to Sudbury's anti-casino lobby allegations

Casino company responds to claims from Sudbury casino detractors
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Gateway Casinos has responded to a number of claims made during a town hall meeting hosted by a group of casino detractors in Sudbury on Jan. 3. (File)

Gateway Casinos has responded to a number of claims made during a town hall meeting hosted by a group of Sudbury casino detractors on Jan. 3.

During that town hall meeting, local businessman and leader of CasinoFreeSudbury, Tom Fortin argued that a casino in Sudbury would cater largely to Sudburians and that the city is still remote and lacks a significant outside tourist base.

Fortin said his data shows Sudbury could only draw on 65,000 people of legal gambling age within a driving radius of 90 minutes.

But Robert Mitchell, director of communications and public affairs with Gateway Casinos, said despite Fortin's claims, the casino operator has done detailed market analysis of Northern Ontario and believes the attraction will draw from a much larger population base than what Fortin's numbers suggest.

"Sudbury is a very good market for us," Mitchell said. "We think we'll definitely have a much wider catchment area with the linkage to the area and a sports and entertainment district.

"With the proximity to the highway and retail shopping, we can be a real attraction and we'll mutually compliment each other. We know people are already coming to Sudbury to shop, particularly at Costco and we understand it's quite a magnet for people from other communities like Espanola and New Liskeard and those types of places. 

"People are coming into Sudbury to shop and the casino would be one more attraction."

While Fortin's arguments against the casino were mainly from the economic standpoint, others at the Wednesday meeting, including Cathy Orlando and No Casino Sudbury founder Ruby Lougheed Yawney, were more concerned with the social aspects associated with a casino.

Orlando said through her research she has found that data suggesting incidences of domestic violence are 25 per cent higher in communities that are within 30 km of a full casino.

"I would challenge the source of that data, where does that come from because that's a mystery to us," said Mitchell. "Those numbers are not supported by the responsible gambling research and the Responsible Gaming Council of Ontario. 

"I don't know that that data exists, I don't know where it comes from."

Lougheed Yawney also argued at Wednesday's town hall meeting that casinos prey on the most vulnerable citizens and suggested the government was hurting people by putting casinos in communities such as Sudbury.

"Why are we inviting this into our community? Why do we want to tempt and hurt people?" she said.

Mitchell responded that Ontario's responsible gambling protocols are the strictest of anywhere in the country. And not unlike a bartender who must take a Smart Serve course, casino employees are also required to take courses to recognize the signs of problem gambling, and to provide a safe environment for people who visit casinos.

"If you're going to gamble, one of the best places to do it is a casino," said Mitchell. "It's the safest place to gamble. You're under surveillance the entire time, you have trained staff to recognize warning signs if people are starting to veer into territory where they're behaving compulsively or exhibiting signs of fatigue. 

"It's a much safer place to gamble, if you're going to gamble, than sitting online in your basement or on your smartphone."

Mitchell also made note of a recent evacuation at Sudbury Downs on New Year's Eve, speaking to the lengths that the staff at gambling establishments will go to to keep their patrons safe and sound.

"There was a fire adjacent to Sudbury Downs and the fire staff complimented our staff on their prompt response and how well-trained they are and what an orderly evacuation it was that within minutes everyone was safe and secure," said Mitchell. "It's a kudos to the degree of training and the sophistication of our staff to look after people and be aware of their health and safety."

While Mitchell did not downplay the reality of gambling addiction, he insisted gambling is a discretionary behaviour and that the presence of a casino doesn't necessarily create a culture of "zombies" who will mindlessly flock to the building.

"The fact that you build a casino doesn't necessarily ensure that everybody is going to flock to it," said Mitchell. "I'm troubled by this notion that suggests people don't have the independence or the will or wisdom to choose that if there's a casino that's 1.6 km from an intersection that people will just turn around and flood into the building. 

"People choose, and if they don't like casino gambling, they don't have to go."

That being said, Mitchell says that he is excited by the opportunity Gateway Casinos has to offer a new entertainment outlet in Greater Sudbury. 

"We're really excited about the development we're proposing and we think it's going to be a terrific attraction," said Mitchell. 

"We'll be sourcing everything locally, we'll be using local entertainers and overall I think it's going to be very good for local business and for the community."


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