The province’s take from VLTs continues to slide, with gaming officials and bar owners saying smoking bans could be a factor.

And the province has made allowances for bars hosting VLTs whose machine revenues might be undermined by butting-out laws.

Revenue from VLTs in 2008-09 are forecast to fall $60 million from the province’s prediction earlier this year to $619 million.

That’s down from $703 million in 2007-08 and $735 million the year before that.

Machines are located in bars and lounges, which were forced to adhere to earlier smoking prohibitions in Calgary and Edmonton and a blanket provincial ban a year ago. It’s hard to explain the trend, said Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission spokeswoman Lynn Hutchings-Mah, adding a butt ban could be a factor.

“If you have a smoking ban or a cold snap, that could drive business down,” she said.

Calgary’s two-year-old smoking ban has cut VLT use, said Sherry Morrison, owner of Shuckaluck’s Public Ale House, 11440 Braeside Dr. S.W., adding the take from her machines has fallen 15% to 20%.

Source: Calgary Sun.  Link

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