ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 1998 Additional copies of this annual report may be obtained from: Communications and Industry Relations Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission 50 Corriveau Avenue St. Albert, Alberta T8N 3T5 Telephone (403) 447-8740 Fax (403) 447-8931 Y Printed in Alberta on Recycled Paper October, 1998 Honourable Patricia L. Nelson Minister Responsible for the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission 425 Legislature Building Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2B6 Dear Minister: I have the honour to submit the Annual Report of the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission for the year ended March 31, 1998, pursuant to Section 30 of the Gaming and Liquor Act. Respectfully submitted, Bob King Chairman and Chief Executive Officer CONTENTS Organizational Profile ............................... 1 Year In Review ..................................... 2 Lotteries and Gaming Highlights ...................... 5 Liquor Licensing Highlights .......................... 6 Liquor Statement by Product Type .................... 7 Financial Statements Auditor’s Report .............................. 8 Balance Sheet................................. 9 Statement of Net Income....................... 10 Statement of Changes in Financial Position........................... 11 Notes to the Financial Statements ................ 12 Video Lottery and Casino Gaming Terminal Operations Schedule......................... 22 Ticket Lottery Operations Schedule............... 23 Lotteries and Gaming Summit ‘98 A Look to the Future .......................... 24 Alberta Lottery Fund . ............................. 26 Agricultural Initiatives . ........................ 27 Cultural Initiatives . ........................... 30 Recreation Initiatives . ........................ 40 Community Facility Enhancement Program III . .... 46 Health and Wellness Initiatives . ................ 52 Science Initiatives . .......................... 53 Other Initiatives . ............................ 53 Alberta Lottery Fund Commitments 1998/99 ........... 55 ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE The Alberta Gaming and Liquor • ensure business and program Commission is an agent of the operations are run efficiently and Government of Alberta and consists of a effectively; Board and a Corporation. • disburse provincial lottery revenues; • support industry and government The Board is responsible for ensuring initiatives to address problem that the powers and duties of the gambling and responsible alcohol Corporation are appropriately carried consumption; out; establishing the policies of the • communicate to gaming and liquor Corporation; and, conducting hearings stakeholders accurate and timely and making decisions respecting licences information. and registration. The Commission administers the Alberta The Corporation consists of Lottery Fund under the provisions of the administrative and operational divisions Gaming and Liquor Act. responsible for the day-to-day functioning of the Corporation. The mission of the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission is to maintain the integrity of gaming and liquor activities in Alberta and collect revenues for the province. The Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission’s mandate, in accordance with the Gaming and Liquor Act, the Criminal Code (Canada) and within the policy framework established by government, includes the following: • licence, regulate and monitor gaming and liquor activities in Alberta; • define operating policies and procedures for gaming and liquor activities; • ensure integrity and social responsibility in the operation of gaming and liquor activities; • collect gaming and liquor revenue; 1 YEAR IN REVIEW ALBERTA LOTTERY FUND VIDEO LOTTERY TERMINAL OPERATIONS The Alberta Lottery Fund is used to support over 4,000 community initiatives The AGLC has maintained the maximum each year. These initiatives include the number of video lottery terminals purchase of advanced medical equipment, (VLTs) in the Province at 6,000. The health and wellness programs, education, initiative to phase-out VLTs in multiple recreation, cultural initiatives, agricultural licenced facilities is targeted for initiatives and many other types of completion by December 2000. As at initiatives. Funds also are used to March 31, 1998, there were 172 multiple supplement the province’s General licences in 76 locations, compared to 225 Revenue funds. multiple licences in 101 locations as of October 8, 1995. RETURN TO CHARITIES FROM CHARITABLE GAMING CASINO GAMING TERMINAL OPERATIONS Return to charities from charitable gaming (i.e. bingo, casinos, raffles and Casino Gaming Terminal activities, pull tickets) was $128.6 million principally slot machines, were expanded compared to $106.2 million in 1996/97. during fiscal 1997/98, resulting in This was due to increased revenues to increased financial returns to charities charities from casino operations and and helping to facilitate the Alberta bingo events. There was also additional Racing Renewal Initiative. The increase revenues from electronic gaming (slot in revenues to charities from slot machine) activities. None of the net machines and Electronic Race Games in proceeds from charitable gaming accrue charitable casinos amounted to $8.48 to Government. The AGLC collects only million, while $4.8 million of revenue licence fees for charitable gaming was earned and distributed to the racing activities. industry from Casino Gaming Terminal and Sega Race Game activities in the WAREHOUSING AND province’s two racing entertainment DISTRIBUTION centres. AGLC had three primary warehousers ABORIGINAL GAMING and distributors: Connect Logistics Services Inc. for liquor and import beer, First Nations interested in developing and Brewers Distributors Limited and and operating casinos have met with the Big Rock for domestic beer. Commission for input, planning, and Warehousing and distribution rates are set clarification sessions. The Government by warehousers. Effective April 29, of Alberta has confirmed that the 1998, the Stroh Brewery was appointed as development of any aboriginal gaming a warehouser and distributor of Stroh initiatives must be consistent with the Brewery products. province’s charitable gaming model. 2 YEAR IN REVIEW (Continued) GAMING, LIQUOR AND TOBACCO increase in incidents can be attributed to COMPLIANCE ACTIVITIES after hours liquor service and prohibited relationships. The following compliance activities, undertaken by the AGLC, help ensure Tobacco that the provisions of the Gaming and Liquor Act, Tobacco Tax Act, Criminal Under the Tobacco Tax Act, 54 new Code and Commission policies are investigation files were opened during effectively enforced. the fiscal year. This resulted in seven charges being laid under the Tobacco Gaming Tax Act. The Commission carried out 85 compliance checks with tobacco A total of 149 incident reports were filed retailers to ensure that tobacco being on gaming related matters during the sold has been legally purchased. The fiscal year. These incidents concerned smuggling of illegal cigarettes into violations of VLT retailer agreements, Alberta for sale both to tobacco retailers cheating at play in casinos, illegal gaming and the general public is a concern of the activities, activities of registered gaming Commission. These enforcement workers as well as the contravention of activities are undertaken to reduce the Board policies respecting legal gaming province’s lost tax revenue from activities for raffles, pull tickets, bingos cigarette sales. and casinos. Of primary concern in the enforcement activities was maintaining the integrity of legal gaming in Alberta. In addition to the incident reports filed, there were 154 new gaming investigation files opened by the Commission’s Special Operations Division. This resulted in 40 charges being laid under the Gaming and Liquor Act. Many of the investigations have resulted in charges being laid under the Criminal Code. In many cases, Special Operations have been able to help charitable organizations recover gaming funds missing from their bank account through theft or fraud. Liquor A total of 647 incident reports were filed on liquor-related matters (433 in 1996/97). These incident reports focus on five key areas of enforcement: illegal liquor, liquor service to minors, over- service, after hours liquor service and prohibited relationships between liquor suppliers and liquor licensees. The major 3 YEAR IN REVIEW (Continued) ADDRESSING SOCIAL ISSUES The AGLC is involved in programs or activities aimed at addressing problem gambling and encouraging the responsible use of alcohol products. Working with the gaming industry, the AGLC disseminates information about the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission’s (AADAC) 24-hour problem gambling help-line. It will consult with industry members from time to time on adopting programs to reduce problem gambling. The AGLC will be involved in implementing various recommendations of the Lotteries and Gaming Summit ‘98, including working with AADAC to increase the visibility of problem gambling prevention and education programs. AGLC routinely provides information aimed at helping Albertans understand the gaming industry in the province, including the nature, extent and type of gaming activities. This information is often requested by groups looking into the social or economic impacts of gaming. The AGLC is represented on the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Provincial Coordinating Committee, examining ways to reduce the incidence of fetal alcohol syndrome in children. It also routinely encourages liquor licensees and