Gambling addicts who have banned themselves from Alberta casinos could be nailed with fines starting next month if they don’t steer clear of the slots and roulette wheels.
Albertans who enter a casino after signing up for the province’s voluntary self-exclusion program will be putting $250 on the line. But they’ll only face the fine if they get caught and they’ll only get caught if somebody at the casino recognizes and reports them. Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission spokesperson Lynn Hutchings-Mah says casino staff have a list of people in the program. “If an individual is recognized, a member of the gaming staff could go and ask for ID and check.”
A 2007 evaluation of the program said the commission should do more to detect violators. It suggested facial-recognition technology and random ID checks as possibilities. “It’s too early to speculate on what systems could be introduced in Alberta,” says Hutchings-Mah.
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