Video Lottery

In Nova Scotia, the Atlantic Lottery Corporation acts as the Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation's (NSGC) agent in operating both ticket and video lottery programs in the Province.

History of VLTs in Nova Scotia
In 1991, video lottery terminals (VLTs) were legalized as a partial response to growing illegal gambling.

Initially, VLTs were allowed in corner stores, laundromats and other neighborhood businesses.

In 1993, the government restricted VLTs to age-controlled, liquor licensed establishments only.

From 1993 to 1998, the number of VLTs and revenues grew steadily.

In 1998, the Video Lottery Terminal Moratorium Act was introduced to limit the number of VLTs which may operate in the Province to 3,234 (excluding VLTs on First Nation reserves). This moratorium is still in effect.

In 2000, Nova Scotia was the first jurisdiction in North America to introduce four features on VLTs designed to provide reality checks and breaks in play to encourage responsible gaming behaviour. These newer, more responsible VLTs began to be replaced across Nova Scotia in May 2001.

In 2004, an educational outreach program, Play by Play, was introduced across Nova Scotia. Through the use of brochures and posters, the program provides VLT players with information and tools that encourage and support informed VLT play.

In 2005-06, an extensive research project and field test was undertaken on a Responsible Gaming Device (RGD). The device attaches to VLTs and requires the insertion of a player's card in order to play. Over 50 VLT machines in Windsor and Mount Uniacke were tested to see if the interactive responsible gaming features (RG) would help keep players responsible. The RG features allows players to track their VLT play through the ability to access "real time" information about the amount of money spent and time played, as well as set limits and exclude themselves from play.

The features were evaluated by three independent researchers and results showed that responsible gaming features on VLTs had a positive impact.

Based on these promising findings, NSGC followed the recommendations of the experts and moved forward to determine if a viable and effective option could be found. If so, these features would be available on all VLTs across Nova Scotia through an Informed Player Choice System (IPCS).

On February 8, 2007, Atlantic Lottery released a Request For proposals (RFP) on behalf of NSGC inviting technology suppliers in the gaming sector to propose technology solutions for an IPCS.

After a comprehensive RFP process, the successful proponent selected to lead the project was Techlink Entertainment

Techlink Entertainment is a Sydney, Nova Scotia-based company that develops and manufactures leading edge gaming technologies for the international gaming industry.

Development and implementation of the IPCS, now called My-Play System, is finished and a province-wide rollout was completed in summer 2010. Annual operating, maintenance and amortization costs are estimated between $4-5 million in each of five years.

As outlined in the province's first Gaming Strategy, since 2005 the VLT hours of operation have been reduced by eliminating the midnight-to-close timeframe, the games were slowed by 30%, the "stop" button feature was disabled on all VLTs in Nova Scotia and 1,000 VLTs were removed from retail locations across the province.

On March 25, 2011, the province released its Responsible Gaming Strategy, which builds and expands upon the foundation created by the 2005 strategy. It continues a moratorium on the addition of any new VLTs in Nova Scotia and introduced a gradual reduction in VLTs through natural attrition, such that any electronic gambling machines available as a result of a business closing will be retired from the system and will not be transferable.

As of October 31, 2011, there are 2,215 VLTs in bars, legions and licensed establishments.

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Video Lottery

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