Friday May 21, 2021 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke, Editor | Island Social Trends
The British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) has announced a board new chair. Selina Robinson, Minister of Finance, has announced the appointment of Greg Moore as the new chair, on this quiet Friday before the May long weekend.
Moore’s term as board chair begins on May 31, 2021, and will expire on Oct. 31, 2023. He will be steering the important revenue-generating BCLC during a time of economic recovery. Lottery revenues were down a bit in 2020 due to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic; this will rollover to some degree in funds being available for the usual target expenditures including schools and the health care system.
Moore has a long career in public service and previous leadership experience with BCLC as a former board chair and interim president and CEO. Moore was the mayor of the City of Port Coquitlam from 2008-18 and served as chair of the Metro Vancouver board of directors from 2011-18.
Inside the team:
Moore was first appointed by the B.C. government to BCLC’s board of directors in 2018. In 2019, he resigned from the board to assume the temporary role of BCLC’s interim president and CEO until January 2021.
Moore replaces current chair Peter Kappel, who joined the BCLC board as its chair in May 2018. Kappel’s appointment expires May 31, 2021.
Lynda Cavanaugh is currently serving as the interim president and CEO as Jim Lightbody remains on medical leave to undergo cancer treatment and recovery.
Gambling management in BC:
BCLC is the Province’s Crown corporation responsible for the conduct and management of gambling in British Columbia, under the Gaming Control Act.
Board/Executive relationship:
BCLC is overseen by a Board of Directors of up to 11 members appointed by Government; presently there are eight members who primarily offer expertise in finance and accounting, marketing and gaming policy.
The CEO and executive team are invited to attend all regular Board meetings. In accordance with best practices, the Board also meets in camera, without management present, before the end of each regular meeting.
BCLC net revenues down in 2020:
Revenues were down a bit in 2020 (compared to 2018 and 2019) due to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2018 revenues: 1.39 billion
- 2019 revenues: 1.41 billion (with a growing share of lottery & e-gaming)
- 2020 revenues: 1.35 billion (lottery & e-gaming fare better than casinos during the pandemic)
The sales of lottery tickets as well as e-gaming were down in 2020 but did not fall below 2018 levels and in fact fared better than casinos and community gaming (e.g. raffles for community sports) due to physical distancing and people functioning remotely from home.
Generating funds for BC Government & more:
Funds raised the BC Lottery Corporation are used by the BC Government as part of general revenues, but are usually promoted in the largest part as supporting education and community (63% of 2019-2020 net revenues) and health programs and hospitals (11.3% of 2019-2020 net revenues) — which together total almost 75% of the net revenues. As well, municipalities who host gaming facilities receive a good chunk, the federal government gets a cut, and even the horse racing industry gets a share.
Retailers also take a cut (of gross revenues). “BCLC’s 3,500 lottery retailers play an important role in delivering revenue to the Province of BC, and BCLC counts on them to do so safely and lawfully,” said BCLC Media Relations officer Erica Simpson in an email to Island Social Trends in January of this year.
The net income from lottery gambling in 2019-2020 amounted to $1.3 billion, generated by BCLC for the Province of B.C. Here’s where the money went (listed in descending order by amount):
- General BC Government revenues (to fund public programs, education and community groups): $821 million (63%)
- Provincial health special account (ear-marked for health initiatives including new hospitals, facility upgrades and community health programs): $147.2 million (11.3%)
- Community Gaming Grants (allocated by BC Government to support a range of non-profit organizations): $140 million (10.7%)
- Host Local Government payments (BC governments that host a gaming facility receive a 10% share of the net revenue those facilities generate): $93.5 million (7.2%)
- First Nations Revenue Sharing (distributed throughout BC): $93.5 million (7.2%)
- Gaming Policy & Enforcement Branch (ensuring safe, secure and well-run games, facilities and online experiences): $15.9 million (1.2%)
- Government of Canada (share of revenue): $10.5 million (0.8%)
- Horse racing purse enhancement (partnership with horse racing community): $10.4 million (0.8%)
- Local economic development initiatives (contributing to vibrant, sustainable communities across the province): $6 million (0.5%)
- Responsible gambling strategies (mission of healthy play & entertainment for adults): $5.6 million (0.4%)
How much people win:
Every year, people from all over B.C. win hundreds of millions of dollars in lottery prizes—from free tickets to jackpots worth millions of dollars. The 6/49 draw in recent years shifted to including an automatic $1 million winner in addition to the other ways to win.
===== Links:
Lucky Keno winner at Fairway Market in Langford (May 2021)
A $2 million pause from breakfast to check lottery ticket – winner in Victoria, BC (January 2021)
EDITORIAL by Island Social Trends: Time to go for smaller lottery prizes but more of them (July 2019)