Comments on Canada's Casino State

Casino State, the new book by professors Klassen and Cosgrave details the contribution of online gambling tax revenue to government coffers alongside its social effects.

The book takes aim at the concept of Canada being a Casino State - one where the government has a large part in running and maintaining online gambling enterprises.

The authors are of the opinion that while online gambling should be regulated in such a way as for the state to generate much-needed revenue, there is a need to patrol the arena. Underage gambling may present itself as an issue with easily accessible websites. To this end, the authors endeavor to suggest firmer control mechanisms to root out any unnecessary ill-effects - thus pacifying the critics.

Professor nails it
Dr. Jim Cosgrave - a co-author of the book, described the ‘unprecedented explosion' of legalized gambling, particularly in the form of casinos and electronic gaming. This certainly rings true. There is a need for debate in the arena of social consequences especially when so much good can come out of online gambling such as tax revenue, corporate social responsibility programs and employment creation.