Liberals pulled plug on My-Play despite experts' call for new system

A panel of gambling experts recommended the province replace My-Play, a responsible gambling feature on video lottery terminals, with a different system designed to use an access card or a password protected account you could create on the VLT, CBC News has learned. 

CBC News obtained a copy of the executive summary of the report from the Nova Scotia Provincial Lotteries and Casino Corporation that considered other options to My-Play. ​Sections of the report have been blacked out.

The governing Liberals instead pulled the plug on the My-Play system with no replacement. The system had been mandatory on VLTs in Nova Scotia since April 2012. 

The government had said replacement systems designed to interrupt play wouldn't have been any more successful than the My-Play system, but that opinion is not reflected in the expert panel's review.

Four experts reviewed options 

In his latest report, tabled June 17, Nova Scotia's Auditor General ​questions the government rationale for abandoning My-Play.

"While the decision to remove My-Play may have been a valid one, a consistent process was not used to assess all options for the removal or replacement of the system," Michael Pickup writes in his report.

The Nova Scotia Provincial Lotteries and Casino Corporation asked four gambling experts to review five options to "determine which is the best course of action for the video lottery My-Play System."

The corporation set the following as goals for the review:

• Enable informed decision making among video lottery players.
• Establish effectiveness of the system.
• Engage players to actively use the system.
• Cost/benefit of the system.

Experts preferred password system

The unnamed experts were asked to consider five options:

• Replace My-Play with another system similar to it created by a company, whose name was blacked out by corporation officials. Unlike My-Play, that system would be voluntary rather than mandatory.
• Make My-Play voluntary, plus adding a points system for those who use the card. Those points could be redeemed for gift cards.
• Remove My-Play but add a feature on VLTs that would require players to select one of four pre-determined spending limits.
• Remove My-Play but add a feature that would require players to select one of four pre-determined time limits.
• Continue with a card system but add a feature that would allow players to create password-protected accounts that they would log in to before they start play.

The expert panel ranked all five using a point system from best option to least valuable.

Each option had pros and cons but option five, the password protected system, scored the best.

The least popular option was the first, which appears to be a straight exchange from the My-Play card system to one created by another company.

"Overall the expert review identified this option as one that will do very little to overcome the issues that were identified with the My-Play system," says the report.

The biggest issue with the My-Play system is the fact players seem to be getting new cards every time they sit down at a machine.

My-Play could have discouraged players

Under general comments, the experts wrote, "It was apparent that players used the card only to access the VL and then discarded it."

The report does offer a hint as to why the province might have abandoned My-Play. There are repeated claims that the mandatory card system has driven casual players away from the VLTs — instead of the problem gamblers.

"Transitioning the program to a voluntary state would likely result in non-problem players returning," it says. 

The report also lists as a benefit to all five options reviewed, "Video lottery retailers would support this option as commissions would increase as a result of increased video lottery revenue, improving the financial position of the small businesses that offer video lottery."

My-Play was designed to give players a running total of the time and money spent on the machines.

It also stopped play periodically to give players time to consider whether or not to continue playing.

By ditching the My-Play system in August, weeks after the expert panel delivered their report, players no longer track their play or have any limit imposed on their access to VLTs.