Municipal representatives plan to meet with provincial officials to suggest they share the province’s new-found gambling revenue with affected charities. The group also wants changes in bingo regulations to make the games more competitive, such as increasing the prize board (the maximum amount someone can win). “I’m not saying our situation isn’t exacerbated by the smoking bylaw,” Mr. Galloway acknowledges, “but I think it’s clear now that that’s not a major factor.”
Not true, counters Brian Gilmour, president of Cambridge Bingo. Profits at Cambridge only dropped 10% after the provincially-run Mohawk Raceway and Brantford Charity Casino opened in August and October of 1999. But an informal study last fall of Gilmour’s customers found that 70% to 80% of them smoke and Cambridge Bingo revenue dropped another 25% when the regional no-smoking bylaw took effect. Revenues continue to fall. Last year the centre made $2.9 million in profit and donated $1.9 million to 90 charities, including
