The gambling industry in Canada is one that constantly strives to improve and give back to their host communities and local economy.This was revealed in the recently announced National Economic Benefits of the Canadian Gaming Industry study by the Canadian Gaming Association, where it summarized the positive impact gaming has made on a national level.

According to the report, in the year 2017, the local gaming industry generated about CA$17.1 billion in gaming revenue. These figures were generated by both family-friendly offerings made available at casino buildings and their respective gambling floors. Therefore, the family-friendly part of the total amount was a rather small percentage, amounting to CA$1 billion.

While gamblers typically frequent a casino location for gambling, but there are now several offerings such as live entertainment and premium dining which are equally appreciated. Nonetheless, online gambling has now become the most preferred method for gambling today, as it provides players with a much more convenient way to compete and win huge cash prizes.

Ontario’s Progressive Conservative government recently announced plans to expand online gambling by showcasing the blueprints of its 2019 budget which included the introduction of new brands to the already existent online gambling industry in the province.Ontarioestimates about CA$2.36 billion in net profit if this is done.

However, players appear to require more diverse online casino offerings via various offshore online platforms. Offshore gambling platforms grant people the freedom to enter into more diverse gaming tournaments on a regular basis—and about CA$110 million is spent on offshore online gaming.

Due to the fact that this money is lost and not invested in the community, the Ontario government hopes to keep the money within the shores of the province by granting licenses to foreign companies to carry out operationsin the province.

Paul Burns, President and CEO, Canadian Gaming Association, at the 23rd Annual Canadian Gaming Summit that held at the Edmonton Convention Centre, spoke about the report and its overall impact of gaming on Canada.

The report shed more light onto Canada’s gaming industry and it successfully provided an insight into the positive impact of the casino industry across different provinces.

About 182,500 individuals—which includes security, casino floor staff and accommodation staff—survive on their income generated by casino venues and gambling halls across Canada. According to the study, the average wage an individual in the gaming industry earnsgets as high as CA$65,000 per annum—equal to national level wages.

Additionally, gambling appears to be more valuable to the economy when compared to traditional entertainment or more social experiences such as visiting the movies, attending live sports events, or purchasing books. Local casino operators are among the main forcesmoving the industry forward—and this is evident by their revenue comparison over the same period.

Among the leading drivers is Gateway Casinos and Entertainment, as it manages 27 gaming properties in three provinces with more than 8,000 employees. A common practice in Canada amongst gaming operators is regular gaming revenue allocations, supporting their host communities and local charitable organizations.

According to Tony Santo, CEO, Gateway Casinos, more than CA$1 million has been allocated to about 1,500 organizations benefitting from casino support. This proves that gambling operation can drastically improve their host communities and problem gambling shouldn’t be a deterrent.Every provincial lottery corporations offer problem gaming support programs to help individuals struggling with gambling addictions maintain a healthy gambling relationship.