Rally protests gaming rules for seniors organizations

By Alexandra Noad - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on November 29, 2024.

Herald photo by Alexandra Noad Seniors of Lethbridge protest AGLC legislation outside of the casino on Thursday afternoon.

A couple dozen seniors gathered outside Casino Lethbridge on Thursday afternoon to protest the implementation of rules forcing seniors gaming groups to give vouchers instead of cash winnings.

According the AGLC Charitable Gaming Policies handbook, groups which provide for seniors to remain physically, mentally and socially active in the community are eligible for licencing under the charitable gaming.

Susan Oktaba organized the protest, after receiving 285 names for a petition, when the AGLC changed the regulations to not allow cash prizes and so these organizations are forced to give vouchers instead.

Oktaba says this uproar is caused because the seniors have to wait until the next event to claim their winnings.

“We have to accept vouchers and the longer it goes the more complicated it gets. When you win, you have to wait until the following week. It’s just craziness,” said Oktoba.

Derrick Smith, an attendee of the protest, says this new legislation puts more strain on the volunteers running the games as they have to purchase the gift-cards following the event, as there is no way to anticipate how much money will be raised.

“It puts more work on the volunteers because they don’t know who’s coming (to the event.) So, the following week they’ll know how much money was given and then they can go out and buy the card,” said Smith.

Smith added many seniors don’t drive, so if the gift card isn’t to a store accessible to them, it is unusable.

For many seniors these events are one of the few social events they can attend and Smith says the small cash prizes make the competition more fun.

“It also adds a little bit of competition, even if it’s not a lot of money, it just makes people keener to play,” said Smith.

Barbara Trottier a senior who enjoys these events and the socialization they bring her.

“I love it. It’s the companionship, the socializing, the fact you might win a couple of bucks, a ‘ha ha, I beat you’ type thing. It just doesn’t feel right that seniors are being threatened with fines,” she said.

“Leave us alone. Just let us have our fun,” said Trottier.