It was revealed this week that during 2007 Canadians spent five times more money on bets than they did 15 years before. The report prepared by Statistics Canada shows that residents of the Prairie Provinces were the ones that spent the most on wagers. On average, each Canadian spent $524 on gaming.

Profits from casinos, lotteries, slot machines and lotto rose to $13.6 billion in 2007, $10.9 billion more than in 1992 and $3 million more than in 2006. The highest bets were registered in Alberta, $890 per capita, followed by Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The lowest bets were registered in the territories: $121.

On the whole, 73 per cent of families stated they have in some time engaged in at least one type of gambling activity. While wealthy families are most likely to gambling, the poorest families spend a largest percentage of their income on games of chance, especially lottery.

One in seven men and women who live alone has tried their luck at casinos, slot machines or lotto machines. Men spent about four times more money than women, $1,667, compared to $446 in 2006.