I found this to be 'Disturbingly Funny'

Every year the United Way has their fund raising blitz and we give.....$$$$$$......

These days however, they even convinced the L.C.B.O. to solicit every one of their customers to give.

When I pay cash for an item at any store I look at the charitable bins they have on the counter and put the change that jingles in the charity I wish to support.

Every year I give an average of $100 to the United Way.

I'm not saying this to brag because I'm sure there are thousands of other consumers that do the same.

The reason I'm writing this is because today I saw a picture of CAW workers of Casino Brantford donating a cheque for $1000 dollars.   What bugs me is, 

    

   Why does an establishment that causes so much social decay get free advertising for giving such a 'piddly' amount of money to a foundation designed to eliminate social decay???

The United Way supports:

OLG Casino Brantford Fourth Quarter of Fiscal 2010 - 2011

25.9 Million dollars

YTD 106.2 Million dollars!!

In 13 years the OLG has given 39.5 million dollars or 3.04 million per year to Brantford for being a 'Host' of Ontario's largest legal gambling ring!

Here's a list of what of the problems gambling creates:

Q. Is compulsive gambling associated with other mental health problems?

A. It appears that in many cases the answer is yes. Various studies have found high rates of alcoholism, depression, anti-social personality disorder, mood disorders, and other conditions in pathological gamblers, leading some researchers to suspect that problem gambling is often a symptom of an underlying condition.

Q. Is there a link between compulsive gambling and chemical dependency?

A. Yes. In several studies approximately 50 percent of problem gamblers were found to also have drug or alcohol problems, while studies of people in treatment for substance abuse have found between 10 and 30 percent also having a gambling problem. People may have both addictions simultaneously, or can switch from one addiction to another.

Q. Who becomes a compulsive gambler?

A. Compulsive gamblers can be male, female, young, middle-aged, old, wealthy, poor, white, or people of colour. Recently, the National Opinion Research Centre of the University of Chicago study completed the first-ever national (U.S.) survey on problem gambling prevalence. The study found that young adults, ethnic minorities, and people with little education were slightly more likely to have serious gambling problems, but the differences were not very large.

Q. What exactly is "problem gambling"?

A. "Problem Gambling" is the term used to describe gambling behaviour, which causes disruption in any important life function, whether psychological, physical, social or vocational. This term is generally accepted to include, but is not limited to "Pathological", a.k.a., "Compulsive" gambling. Compulsive Gambling is a progressive addiction characterized by increasing preoccupation with gambling, a need to bet more money more frequently, restlessness or irritability when attempting to stop gambling, "chasing" losses, and loss of control by continuing negative gambling behaviour, regardless of the disruption and serious consequences of such behaviour.

This is just the tip of the Iceberg!

It doesn't matter what time of day I drive by the casino, early morning, afternoon or late in the evening.  

This is what I see!

I personally know of 2 people that work to feed their gambling addiction and most of it goes here!

Seriously, is 3 million dollars annual 'restitution' enough to cover the damage this place does to its Regulars?