Nevada Connection To Gambling In Canada

The Nova Scotia gaming service provider's staff were fully aware of how this man was funding his gambling, but did nothing to discourage (regardless of signage posted on slot machines and in washrooms) or prevent him from ruining his life! They always maintain "it is the customer's responsibility to play within their limits." I have written numerous letters to the provincial ministers responsible in Nova Scotia and BC to highlight my concerns. In addition, I have sent letters to federal justice minister Irwin Cotler for his review and possible attention regarding this topic. I have sent copies of those letters to the RCMP Pacific Region headquarters highlighting my concerns in this province. Newspapers in this area are reluctant to report on this topic because they don't have the resources, personnel or desire to do so. They are frightened from doing so because of not being able to prove any accusations? I can understand their reluctance. Gambling in Canada has become a huge source of revenue for governments. This revenue goes largely un-reported to Canadians, unless one digs around a bit. There appears to be a nervousness and a reluctance by politicians to speak to this obvious shady form of tax collection ...... but accept it and waste it, they do. It amounts to $$Billions and Billions$$, every year! Although I cannot prove it, the question has been raised, "how deep does the Nevada gambling interests go into Canadian gambling operations"? Gambling in Nevada has created the ultimate cover-up by telling / convincing us; organized crime has long since been removed from gambling operations in Nevada? They also tell the public that organized crime no longer controls gambling so the "organized professional gaming service consultants" are now free to cross International borders to assist new gaming operations in Canada and throughout the world. Of course they maintain, it is all sanctioned by government, so it has to be legal? If you believe that one, I have a large steel bridge to sell you although you will have to move it from its present location in Brooklyn, New York! It is my opinion this problem has created more hidden devastation than we can imagine. The horror stories are not widely reported. A suicide in the city of Kamloops, BC, was directly attributed to gambling losses in this small city in western Canada. Little play was given to this tragic death. How many other deaths have resulted and how many bankrupt Canadians are out there just because of gambling? I am asking 5th Estate to consider this as a feature story. I am willing to assist if required in any fashion. Organized crime is alive and well in Canada and it isn't just the Hell's Angels who are involved! Barry Campbell British Columbia [phone number withheld] [Proofreader's note: this article was edited for spelling and typos on September 27, 2005]