Gambling - huge contributor in Canada
8th April, 2008
Canadian Gaming Association has released the report in which it says that gambling is the country's biggest and most financially successful entertainment industry. It produces 267,000 full-time jobs and $15,3 billion in a year for Canada.
In the report the group released on Tuesday it said that in 2006, $8.7 billion, which is just over half of the gambling revenue for the year, was invested in government services and charities. $6.6 billion "was spent to sustain operations, paid out as salaries, and used to purchase goods and services."
The gaming association's research is the most comprehensive research that has ever been conducted to learn how national gambling impacts Canada's economy. It has revealed that there are now over 135,000 people who have jobs in gambling. When the services that exist due to gambling outlets, such as food and entertainment services, are added up, the sum becomes even more impressive, with 267,000 full-time employees in total. To translate this into the labor income, 2006 saw $11.6 billion all thanks to the industry.
Here is what stated association president, Bill Rutsey, says about the findings of the research: "Gaming has grown significantly over the past decade to become an essential pillar of the entertainment industry in Canada. It is now demonstrably clear how the majority of spending in the industry goes directly back to Canadians in the form of paycheques, construction in communities, and revenues for the programs and services and charities that we value."
By Elena
