HE PROVINCIAL gov- ernment is trying to raise revenue without raising taxes and sees paming as one way to do it. Victoria is trying to introduce video lit- tery terminals (VLTs) into B.C. pubs, lounges and bars. it also sees legalizing the nion- tymukers as a way of wiping out illegal) machines. But many municipalities, includ- ing Greater Vancouver Regional District communi- ties, are outlawing VLT. Municipal Affairs Minister inguiring reporter Robin Blencee says while he will still push fer their establish- ment, the province will respect the municipalities’ decision, ‘The municipalities feel the machines wil! promote gambling addic- tions and social problems in their respective communities. ‘Two years after VL&s were installed in Alberta bars and pubs, the Alberta Alcohol and Brug Addiction Coramission reports that it ‘is now treating an unusually high number of garnbling addicts. Are you in favor of | video lottery terminals Don Mackenzie North Vancouver Hl ’T'm in favor of them: “Tax the - people who want to gamble, not PMs eo! : 7 | Wendy Jones ‘ “North Vancouver — “I think’ it’s great for the peo- ple who éan control themselves - but it is promoting a gambling addiction for others. ; ipemoa : es ” Horseshoe Bay Dondarave/Ambleside - British Properties Norgate/Pembenton Heights - Capilano/Delbrook Highlands - Lower Lonsdate Central and Uj i Lynn Valle «1. Blueridge/Deep Cove f Lonsdale operating in local bars? Robert Cameron North Vancouver I think.they should be kept in casinos. People: who want to gamble go to-a casino and those- who don’t, don’t. Kristine Sigurdson North Vancouver ~ i. Yes. If that gives someone. pleasure and it raises money for - the government, why not. I per- sonaily wouldn't frequent them _ but it’s a personal choice. NO NO” DON'T OPINION KNOW 4% 68% 13% 13% 2% 59% 21% 13% lie 667m 10% 13% 13% SI 30% 1% 1% 65% 10% W% 4% He 39% 13% 10% 37% 1k 2am ioe ate se 3% 9% OUR 1% 17% 58% Card shops reap windfall LOCAL ELEMENTARY school kids are going POG wild. By Anna Marie D'Angelo News Reporter The fatest schoolyard craze is a _Teincamation of the old milk boule caps game. “You don’t have to play for keeps. You can play for fun. f usually play for keeps,” said Corrine Hunter, a nine-year-old Canyon Heights ele- mentary school pupil and proud owner of 70-odd POGs. The game is. played using two quarter-size POGs made of thin card- board, which are placed next to each other face down on the ground. . A “slammer” POG, made of plastic or metal, is hit over them. The player wielding the slammer wins any POG flipped over by the slammer. Kids take tums using the slammer.’ Corrine’s mother, Lori Hunter, says POGs have been the rage since Christmas. The nice weather during the past _ month has raised POG playing to a level where it’s about the orily game in town for the six- to 12-year-old crowd, The phenomenon is great for business at sports card “shops such as Park Royal shopping centre's National Pastimes Sports Collectibles, where upwards of 50% of sales are now POGs. ~ “You should come down here on a Saturday afternoon when there are 20 kids in here.” said manager Geotf Holland. “They like anything (any POG) with cool pic- tures on them, and they like big, heavy slammers.” Holland said discriminating . pint-sized POG buyers ./ come from all parts of the North Shore to check out the’ selection. i NEWS photo Torry Potars POG ENTHUSIASTS Clay Hunter (left), Kevin Grant, Corrine Hunter and Erin Grant like to play for keeps. POGs,” said Holland. POG stands for passion fruit, orange and guava juice, the ingredients of the Hawaiian drink called POG. The game originated in Hawaii several years ago when kids started to pull off POGs, the pieces for the game, from under the caps of POG juice bottles, : . . The cost of POGs vary. The high-end collectable ’ POGs sell for about $3 for seven POGs. About 20 cheap POGs cost $1. / Meanwhile, Lori Hunter thinks POGs are great: “They. (the kids) collect them. The real POGs are numbered and. they keep 'theni, ‘They play the cheap ones.” Youngsters’ canvassed by the News couldn’t explain exactly what {ures them to POG playing beyond “it’s fun.” «Corrine Hunter admits that POG playing can in be addic- ‘ tive sometimes. Could ‘the POG craze be explained by some ‘innate , » Give to gamble which first manifests itself in elementary © school years? Will expert POG playeis be the high-rollers : of tomorrow or like marble players shelve the pastime for . “We've gone from a small amount of table space on the counter to most t of our cabinets and ar. entire counter is all ? vet lottery terminals NO! NO! No! By lan Noble News Reporter That's the reaction of North Shore mayors to an NDP plan to introduce ‘gambling machines to licensed busi- nesses such as pubs. - North Vancouver District Mayor Murray Dykeman, North Vancouver City. Mayor Jack Loucks and West Vancouver. District Mayor Mark Sager agree they do not want video lottery terminals (VLTs) and the problems associated with chem. However, the provincial govem- ment argues that the insidious machines are here to stay. so charities and government, rather than crimi- nals, should profit from the gambling devices. , The province also hopes to halt the use of illegal gambling machines - by regulating and distributing legal - ones. ' But the mayors Mictoria's argument. don’t buy ‘. Dykeman told the News the “con-- cept of legalizing to deal with the ille- gal is ridiculous.” He said distributing the machines simply allows gambling in more. places.-—— a result the community opposes. VLTs are ‘not necessary. he said, “particularly in drinking estab- lishments.” i Although Loucks had not given the machines much thought until. a discussion among Greater Vancouver Regional District mayors on Feb. 24 resulted -in unanimous disapproval,:. - he found the No side convincing. He said. video lottery - terminals. ’ create hardship for people prone to gambling and their families. He plans to discuss the issue with staff before bringing it before coun- cil | Sager also rejects the province's | position on VLTs. West Vancouver, however, has already taken action in the form of a bylaw that would prohibit VLTs - through the zoning process. A public hearing scheduled for- Monday, March 13, will allow resi-' dents to voice their opinions on the issue. Sager said he will consider the public's wishes: if pubiic opinion seems to approve. of the terminals “although Fm quite confident that “won't occur.” But. apprehensive North Shore municipalities may be jumping the gun, said Government © Services See Gaming page 8 - other pursuits by high school? . As Corrine Hunter says, “I don’t know.” 66 Sager said he will consider the public’s wishes if public opinion seems to approve of the terminals ‘although I’m quite. confident that won t