Toronto Mayor Sides with Scarborough Seniors in Euchre Problem Gambling Dispute

Gaming is among the offerings that attract seniors willing to have some fun and socialize with their fellows for several hours a day on a regular basis. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario’s enforcement bureau has been probing a group of Scarborough seniors playing euchre. Toronto Mayor John Tory recently pointed out that illegal gambling has nothing to do with the seniors’ activity and the investigation should be dropped.

Over the past few months, seniors in the Toronto area have been worried about their preferred pastime activity that brings them closer. The first days of July saw a temporary ban on money transactions during low-stakes gambling including games such as bingo, euchre, cribbage, and bridge. These are all organized events that manage to attract quite the crowd of seniors and for the longest time, they have been happening uninterrupted.

Seniors Don’t Want Lower Entry Fee

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario’s enforcement bureau is now after the gatherings of seniors that have featured the same conditions over the past two decades. Every player willing to participate in the game has to bring CA$1.25 to the table and reserve a spot in the gaming action. This entry fee was also mandatory at the Scarborough Village Recreation Centre that is now investigated by the commission.

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The Park Forestry and Recreation Division wants to introduce a new lower buy-in for these games, setting it to .25 cents. What truly concerns people is the fact that from here on out, all money exchange within the Older Adult Drop-In Programs would be considered illegal. The change does not put an end to the regular events but instead aims to make them safer in relation to previously expressed problem gambling concerns.

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Some 40 individuals participate in the gaming congregations on a regular basis, but now there is a serious threat to their integrity, as the gaming commission is probing for illegal gambling. The individuals that have spent years gaming have expressed their protest against the intervention of sorts that is going on.

Toronto Mayor Defens Them

Many of the players claim that the cash payout is not that impressive when all is said and done, but it is a factor that keeps people coming back for more. People have met new friends after tough life challenges and this keeps them going. Toronto Mayor John Tory also sided with the seniors claiming that their activities could not be considered illegal gambling by any means.

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He had a conversation with the General Manager of Parks and Recreation seeking an end to this investigation referring to the probe as being led by the ‘anti-fun police’. In addition to that, he also plans on addressing the issue in front of the seniors themselves and having a personal conversation with them. He would offer his apologies for the inconvenient situation that interferes with their activities.

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Toronto’s Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division announced the change of regulations that would bring the City of Toronto up to speed with the province in the last weeks of June. Eyeing problem gambling prevention and levels reduction, the division launched this campaign that was promoted via messages posted at recreation centers in the region.