Many people have little sympathy for gambling addicts like Joyce May Ross. Whether it’s through not having an understanding of addiction themselves, or simply holding tough-love views about people who harm themselves by their own actions, lots of people scoff at Ross for suing the B.C. Lottery Corp. and several casinos over her financial losses.
But it’s simplistic in this case to just blame the victim.
Gambling addiction is no different than other addictions. Addicts have a terrible time changing their ways and almost always need help. Ross’s claim, as yet not proven in court, is that she went to great lengths to ask the casinos and the lottery corporation to keep her out of gambling joints.
The case demonstrates yet again the government’s nasty role in harming citizens such as Ross and brings into question its decision years ago to begin profiting from gambling.
Government’s main job, it can be argued, is to serve citizens, not to aid in their destruction. Some will say that B.C. gains revenue from gambling that provides social benefits, which is true. But without gambling revenue, the same thing could be achieved through other means where the pain would be equitably shared without causing the ruination of people like Joyce May Ross.
Editorials are unsigned opinion pieces that represent the views of The Province editorial board, a group of senior editors.
The editorial pages editor is Gordon Clark, who can be reached at gclark@theprovince.com. Letters to the editor can be sent to provletters@theprovince.com.
