Anyone who has been to
Las Vegas knows that the blow of losing ridiculous amounts of cash is often cushioned by the flow of equally ridiculous amounts of free booze. It's one of Sin City's salacious selling points, as evidenced by the almost perpetual stream of tourists that flock to the flickering oasis in the desert.
But in Ontario you not only have to live with the fact that the odds are cruelly stacked against you when it comes to games of chance, but you'll also have to fork out whatever cash you have left if you hope to sip some therapeutic nectar.
That's where John Tory enters the fray.
He may be Conservative blue to the bone, but the Tory leader thinks a different approach to booze laws in casinos could help the province's struggling tourism industry. "I think we should look at the notion of being perhaps a bit more liberal in the case of liquor laws inside casinos," Tory suggests.
Just like Vegas, he says it's time for Ontario to consider giving out free booze at casinos. "I'm willing to take a look at the drinking rules that we apply in casinos and see if the operators feel that's a substantial impediment to visitors coming here and our being competitive. I'm willing to look at it."
In order to make the switch to free booze, changes would have to be made to the
Liquor Act that's been on the books for more than 18 years. David Caplan, Minister of Lotteries and Gaming, doesn't think it's worth the gamble. In fact, he thinks it will harm local business. "If you're going to ask somebody to compete with a government institution which is giving away free booze, why would the patrons want to go to those restaurants and bars when they can go to a government operation?" he asks.
And while those who like to mix the vices of gambling and drinking together surely think it's a great idea, not everyone is thrilled with the prospect of boozy-breathed Ontarians slurring curses at one-armed bandits. "It's ridiculous. I think that it brings out the worst in people," remarked Denise Chan.
Still, there's some, like Lucy Pizzanno, who believe it's the least the casinos can do after prying away your hard-earned cash. "You lose money," she concludes. "They can't give you a drink?"