Nova Scotia will continue to consider running its own form of online gambling, despite comments by Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams.
Williams said he opposed the idea of setting up a provincial online gambling site, even though Atlantic Lottery Corporation estimates $50 million in revenue flows out of the province to international gaming companies.
He said Newfoundland doesn’t have to “scratch and claw” for money.
But Finance Minister Graham Steele said Nova Scotia doesn’t need approval from other provinces to go ahead with an online gaming initiative.
While he acknowledged gambling takes a social toll, he said the government has mechanisms for dealing with problem gambling.
“Gambling has a social cost, but then so does alcohol,” said Steele.
“Just outright banning gambling doesn’t strike me in particular as the best approach.”
