Public Security Minister Jacques Dupuis has ordered an internal investigation following reports that Quebec's gaming commission altered a study that's critical of the province's anti-gambling efforts.
Dupuis said he's disturbed by media reports that the commission deleted critical sections of the study before tabling it as evidence in a class-action lawsuit against Loto-Quebec.
"This story troubles me," the minister said in a statement. "That's why I have asked the deputy minister of public security to conduct an investigation to get to the bottom of things."
Media reports say the gaming commission deleted half of the report, removed the name of a researcher and even changed the title before submitting it to Quebec Superior Court last year.
The allegations
The commission had paid for the gambling study back in 2002 and received a 114-page report the following year.
The study, written by four outside researchers, highlighted several areas of concern about video-lottery terminals and other aspects of government-run gambling:
- It said bank machines were, in many cases, located too close to VLTs
- It charged that government was not spending enough to treat gambling addicts
- It suggested the gaming commission might be in a conflict of interest by promoting gambling while also trying to curb its negative effects.
The suit
Nearly 120,000 gambling addicts are suing Loto-Quebec for $1 billion to recoup money they say they have lost collectively on video lottery terminals.
The litigants contend Loto-Quebec is not doing enough to warn users about the dangers of VLTs.
The case is being heard in Quebec City and could last up to a year.
