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here in portage la prairie there are still vlts and bingo open arrow head casino and dakota tipi gamming center . dont under stand why there not closed like the rest.

"Playmakers Lounge" open. Does that mean vlts? I thought all gaming rooms were to be closed? I wouldn't touch those machines with a ten foot pole!

canada inns portage la prairie play makers lounge open also.

Friend of mine mentioned to me they were playing vlt's at the Clarion on Sunday. I was completely amazed. Both at her stupidity and the hotel's

Goverment greed will keep open any money making things in there pocket. even though they say to stay inside and distance from people. lots of companys have closed trying to do there part and are suffering from closing so why are vlts,bingo,and LCC still open . they should be closed.

While I am a non drinker I have never felt like having a drink like I do now!!! Just the stress of all this s%^t. I can't imagine people who imbibe every day not being able to get their booze! As someone pointed out to me the pot stores are crazy busy because of this situation so why not liquor?  
But definitely no vlts should be running.

My guess is the bars and lounges remain open because of potentially lost VLT revenue. The casinos have all been ordered to close, but the bars can still remain open so long as people obviously practice social distancing no matter where they are in the bar. If people are drunk, that of course isn't so easy. It's of course up to management how they decide to move forth. On one hand, they can get up to a $7000 fine in Canada (or higher); but for small towns you're damned if you do and damned if you don't. Closing for a length of time hurts these places and if it's attached to a hotel that allows full-time tenants, they'll end up out on the streets if the place goes under. I don't fully get it either but it is what it is.

Isn't restaurants and bingo places already closed? As for LCC huge profits for the government. Don't want to shut those down, with money aid being asked all over where the heck is it all going to come from? If we were truly serious we would not see families out shopping. One family member per entry. The lower class will keep getting help yet with increased debt from all this both for government and people, it will be a lot of weight to hold for the middle class.

The province has banned any hunting and fishing so why the hell are the vlts still operating? Those machines are full of every kind of germ!

I saw the Facebook story about hunting and fishing being banned until 2021. It’s a complete and utter BS and prank that someone started spreading thinking it was funny. It’s not true and it’s not funny. People tend to read headlines only and not follow up with the whole story. If people would have bothered to click on the “news story” to get the whole story they would’ve seen it was a prank. Not a funny one either.

Where did you see that hunting and fishing are banned? Cause there is a April fools joke going around about that, but it’s not real. Still says hunting and fishing allowed on the public health order.  
Also all the Vlt’s were allowed to be open until today. So those that were open last night were still allowed, but the new rules come into play today. So if you still see vlts operating tonight, then I’d report it.

an April Fools joke a day early then? What I saw was a photo of Brian Pallister on CBC news talking about the ban. Idiots that pulled that prank! Sorry I got it wrong  
Nothing wrong with going hunting or fishing by yourself is there? No it was not funny either!

For those commenting on MLCC. If they closed the stores and stopped people from being able to get their liquor they would end up with ICU beds full of people detoxing and going through withdrawal. They need those beds for COVID patients.

From my call-arounds to figure out updated business hours I can say that I do know that Playmakers' Lounge's VLTs as well as the Clarion's VLTs are not in operation.

No, cutting off alcohol supplies would not flood the ICU with detoxing alcoholics. Medically serious effects of withdrawl are very very rare. Very rare.  
 
Concern for alcoholics (yeah, that's a thing you see a lot of) is being used as an excuse to keep the liquor flowing because a) it is money and the province knows they will get some and b) the province knows the people would riot if they had to go without.

Which part of stay at home don't you understand?

Physical symptoms from alcohol withdrawal are very real for many people. We can haggle percentages but the reality is that loss of access to it would cause medical emergencies and, in some cases, death. A desire to curb social unrest is also a valid reason for the essential title given there is no room for more social unrest during already difficult times.

I've been playing the VLTs throughout the whole coronavirus thing. I heard today that The Crystal is closed (Bar/VLTs) but never gave it much thought.

All you have to do is deny healthcare to alcoholics and other addicts as that is self inflicted therefore leaving beds free for covid 19 patients.

All VLT's in the province have been turned off and even prior to this many places took efforts to keep VLT's sanitized and 2/3's of the VLT's were turned off weeks ago to maintain social distancing

People seem to have taken my earlier comment to mean I was less than sympathetic to alcoholics. Quite the opposite. I am more than sympathetic.  
 
Farmergeorge's opinion is exactly in keeping with the insight and empathy I see heaped upon addicts in general and it is this that I was commenting on.  
 
I o:bject to mercenary measures being trotted out under the shield of humanitarianism. People could care less about the plight of the drunks, they just want their booze and the province wants their money and everyone wants a way to feel good about it.  
 
Here's something to consider, what effect limitless time, free access to alcohol and lockdown have on the lives of victims of domestic abusers?  
 
How many people will be pushed over into alcoholism by having limitless time, isolation, anxiety and few to no responsibilities?  
 
I'm not saying that the taps should be shut off, in fact I think it would be stupid. What I'm saying is let's not pretend that it is in any way to do with concern about addicts suffering withdrawl.

Can I get some clarification as to what mercenary measures you are alluding to. I may or may not agree with you.

Mercenary may have been a bit strong, "self-interested" would have been better.  
 
The province needs the revenue, and they have been counting on addicts as a source since day one. They left bars and lounges open and shut down every 2nd vlt. That goes against isolation and social distancing, but they need money.  
 
The people need entertainment and distraction and liquor serves admirably as both.  
 
I think cutting off access to alcohol and weed would do much more harm than good. Continuing - restricted - alcohol sales is the right move I think.  
 
But I also think an honest assesment of the various reasons for continuing alcohol sales would place the potential for crisis level withdrawl pretty low on the list. Especially so when viewed alongside the real potential increase in domestic violence (incidence and severity) and accidental injury posed by the combination of booze, time, frustration and anxiety.

I think you’re underestimating the number of people who would have serious complications from going cold turkey off of booze. I have 2 close family members who would both be affected in this way. They are both functioning members of society, and good people, but would both have serious complications if they suddenly couldn’t have alcohol.  
Granted, one of them wouldn’t run out for weeks.  
 
Farmergeorge, I get it, you think addicts are worthless. I’m happy you’ve never been close to one in your life. I also hope you don’t have a heart attack and need healthcare, because you didn’t have to eat that cheeseburger, and I don’t want to pay for your bad choices.

Last night I won $100 from powerplay online casino. I've played on there before and got payments through e transfer in 1 business day.  
 
Tuesday I'll get my e transfer.

I did not say that anyone is worthless , merely that addicts made a life choice. Covid 19 patients and those with other illnesses did not make a choice therefore they must be granted priority healthcare when resources are stretched. FWIW my only addiction is work, for which I am grateful because I have never had the time nor the finances to develop less healthy addictions.  
 
Edited by Farmergeorge, 2020-04-04 16:46:14