The GPEB admits “administrative error” on gambling violation stats

British Columbia’s Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch issued a report that showed Gaming Control Act violations increased by 735 percent last year.

Canada.- British Columbia’s Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch confirmed it made an “administrative error” after publishing a report that showed an increase of Gaming Control Act violations by 735 percent last year.

The report which ended in March 31, 2015, showed that GPEB recorded 3,215 violations, up from the 385 a year earlier. A spokesperson for the gambling regulator clarify that there were actually only 305 violations in 2014-2015, which was a decrease of almost 21 percent. So far, none was reported to Crown counsel, according to the report presented at a budget estimates hearing in the Legislature on May 17.

Brennan Clarke from the Ministry of Finance blamed the error on the inclusion of 2,910 incident reports of voluntary self-exclusions. The category had been removed from the 2013-2014 report because it was considered a B.C. Lottery Corporation responsibility, although it is mentioned in the Gaming Control Act. However, Brennan explained that the ministry is “not able to provide an exact breakdown” of the 305 violations, which include unauthorised lottery schemes, selling lottery tickets to minors and allowing minors into casinos.

“The exclusion of VSEs and other prohibited patrons in the 2013-14 report, and the notes explaining the change, were supposed to carry through to the 2014-15 report,” Clarke said. “The intent was to continue reporting on that basis, and GPEB will report on that basis in next year as well.”