Even before online gambling is officially legal in Quebec, the health ministry is making room for problem gambling education in their budget.
There are currently several ad campaigns running on television, as posters in public bathrooms (including the universities), in bus shelters, as well as many other places. The ads they are currently using are costing them approximately $300,000 and consideration for the same type of campaign is being considered for 2010.
The health ministry is being very vocal in explaining that they are not anti-gambling but that it is their duty to protect Quebec’s citizens. They just want to emphasize your low chances of hitting a jackpot and make it clear to everyone that a gambling addiction is serious. The idea is for people to make informed choices about online gambling and know the risks before it becomes a problem.
Saskatchewan has already implemented a safe gambling strategy in that every video gambling terminal has the hotline number clearly stated on it and have set aside more than two million dollars for gambling research, prevention of problem gambling and treatment for those who have already developed the problem.
The province of Quebec may be slightly behind other provinces in joining the online gambling industry but, having made plans for what will inevitably lead to some gambling addictions, they are completely in step with the rest of the country.
