Surprisingly, there are casinos in Canada. This is hardly a development envisaged by her earliest settlers. It is a recent phenomenon, and would represent a departure from the straight and narrow to those who originally moved to Canada from Europe.

Surprisingly, there are casinos in Canada. This is hardly a development envisaged by her earliest settlers. It is a recent phenomenon, and would represent a departure from the straight and narrow to those who originally moved to Canada from Europe.

The First Nations of Canada have a strong gambling tradition. When the early frontiersmen arrived from France, they brought their own love of games of chance with them. For this reason, there is a common Canadian notion that French people are responsible for gambling in Canada. But when the British arrived and started gaining power, they quickly vetoed all gambling activity in Canada. From the year eighteen ninety two gambling was banned by law. In nineteen sixty nine the law was changed to allow gambling under strictly controlled circumstances Individual Provinces regulated the new, stringent conditions.

In'89 the first commercial casino opened in Winnipeg, Manitoba. For four long years, Canadians had to make the trek to Winnipeg in order to enjoy the casino experience. Then, between'93 and'94 a thaw appeared in the seemingly frozen gaming industry. This happened when Ontario and Quebec got in on the action. The thaw started a flood of casino projects which continues until today. However, there are still non-gambling provinces in Canada, where the gambler will search in vain for a casino.

Out in the cold Atlantic lie the three hold-out Provinces. In Newfoundland Labrador you can gamble in many ways, but there are no casinos. The same is true of the Provinces of New Brunswick and Prince Edward island. The reasons for this distrust of casinos are ingrained in the culture of these Provinces, but it will give way eventually.

Someone counted how many casinos were operational in Canada in August 2009. He reported that there were sixty nine. Canadians are presenting to the world a professionally run, fun casino experience. They have been providing casinos for a relatively short time, but are willing to learn all of the finer points of making Canadian casinos profitable.

The growth of the Canadian Casino Industry has been slow in developing because Canadians are torn between reaping the benefits and wreaking social havoc. However, in light of current and developing economic trends, casinos' growth will grow unabated in Canada. New applications to build casinos are reviewed every day in all provinces which permit their operation.

Going to a casino is a visible public act. As such it is abhorrent to about half of Canada's citizens. They prefer to buy lottery tickets, which can be done fairly privately. However, twenty out of 1oo Canadians are proud casino patrons. They have shaken off the negative views of their countrymen. Their attitude will ensure the growth of the casino business in Canada. Casino players of the future will be able to visit the entire country and find well run, attractive casinos. The real history of casinos in Canada is yet to be written. The Canadians will turn their attention to the future where the benefits of casinos will help ease many problems. They have already learned to ignore outdated prejudices This is just the beginning!.

No doubt Canada's founding fathers would be horrified at the sight of so many Canadians frequenting casinos in Canada. But they would have the satisfaction of seeing that their disapproving attitudes have been strongly instilled in many Canadian minds.