Gambling with gamblers

Re Ontario loses $10M on loans to gamblers,

June 17 It’s hard to fathom how any government without some sort of vetting process could permit one of its agencies to engage in such a controversial practice as extending loans on the spot to gamblers in casinos. Especially given how much we know about the countless lives being destroyed by gambling addiction.

Most responsible gamblers plan ahead and set limits on the amount of money they will put in play. They likely would never consider the idea of asking the casino for a loan. If it is not self-evident that problem gamblers are the ones utilizing this service, then I suspect the $10 million of bad debts to Ontario taxpayers may offer a subtle hint. Ross Hollingshead, Toronto