VLT monitoring cards to be mandatory in N.S.

All video-lottery players in Nova Scotia will have to use a MyPlay card to gamble starting in April 2012.

The provincial government released its gaming strategy Friday.

The voluntary system involves gamblers using cards that are inserted into the VLTs, giving the player the ability to set a spending limit, to stop play immediately and to set a time limit.

Preliminary results from a Nova Scotia Gaming Foundation-commissioned study suggested that high-risk and problem VLT players were more predisposed to take advantage of the system and the features than low- and no-risk players are.

The government says it won't allow racinos, which is a combined horserace track and casino, or develop its own internet gambling site.

The moratorium on new VLTs will continue.

David Wilson, the minister responsible, said the strategy is a "socially responsible, sustainable and accountable approach to gaming."

In addition, the government is folding the Nova Scotia Gaming Corp. into the Department of Heritage and the Gaming Foundation into a new research body.