Close X
Saturday, November 23, 2024
ADVT 
National

Government 'ill-suited' to run gaming: testimony

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 04 Feb, 2021 10:27 PM
  • Government 'ill-suited' to run gaming: testimony

The former chairman of the board at the British Columbia Lottery Corp. says he advised cabinet ministers in two different governments to get out of high-end gaming where bet limits reached $100,000.

Bud Smith testified at the public inquiry into money laundering that former Liberal finance minister Mike de Jong and New Democrat Attorney General David Eby both ignored what he says was his "brilliant idea."

Smith, a former B.C. attorney general, says he expressed his views about getting the Crown-owned lottery corporation out of high-limit gaming to de Jong in 2015 and to Eby in 2017, shortly after the NDP formed government.

He says the potential for suspicious activities at gaming outlets has historically been present in B.C. and the government would be better suited as a regulator, while allowing other entities to run high-limit gaming.

Smith says de Jong told him during a meeting to continue the lottery corporation's anti-money laundering strategy based on risk assessments of players and their sources of cash, and not move to a policy focused on restricting cash at casinos.

The NDP government appointed B.C. Supreme Court Justice Austin Cullen in 2019 to lead a public inquiry into money laundering after three reports outlined how hundreds of millions of dollars in illegal cash affected the province's real estate, luxury vehicle and gaming sectors.

MORE National ARTICLES

Police cite large cheeseburger delivery in warrant

Police cite large cheeseburger delivery in warrant
The application to provincial court says complaints about repeated parties allegedly with dozens of people attending on some nights began on Jan. 2, but Vancouver police did not respond that day due to a large volume of calls.

Police cite large cheeseburger delivery in warrant

Cruise ship ban to Canada extended to 2022

Cruise ship ban to Canada extended to 2022
The ban until Feb. 28, 2022 applies to cruise ships carrying more than 100 people as well as pleasure crafts operating in the Arctic, except for those used by residents in the region.

Cruise ship ban to Canada extended to 2022

Vaccinating Mounties should be a priority: union

Vaccinating Mounties should be a priority: union
The National Police Federation says inoculating its members will ensure the safety of both officers and the communities they serve.

Vaccinating Mounties should be a priority: union

Woman dead, man hurt in shooting in Surrey, B.C

Woman dead, man hurt in shooting in Surrey, B.C
Officers found a woman in grave condition and a man suffering non-life-threatening injuries inside the home.

Woman dead, man hurt in shooting in Surrey, B.C

B.C. expands mask requirements in schools

B.C. expands mask requirements in schools
Previously, students and staff were only required to wear masks in areas where interactions are not controlled, such as in hallways, libraries and on school buses.

B.C. expands mask requirements in schools

Canada sees 30-per-cent drop in COVID cases

Canada sees 30-per-cent drop in COVID cases
Even with this decline, Tam said the current caseload continues to burden local health-care resources, particularly in regions with high infection rates.

Canada sees 30-per-cent drop in COVID cases

PrevNext