Atlantic Lotto creating smartphone-friendly games

The Atlantic Lottery Corporation is making it easier for gamblers to play some of its games on smartphones.

The ALCis optimizingits website for smartphones enabled with Flash software, which includes Androids and future Blackberries.

"We need to be more in line with the needs and wants of our players, and given that one in five Canadians owns a smartphone, it makes sense," said ALC spokeswoman Tracey Kenney.

It's also untapped potential for the lottery corporation at a time when profits have dropped six per cent per cent since 2005-2006.

The ALC is cashing in on the accessibility of the technology, said Peter McKenna, a political scientist at the University of Prince Edward Island, who has done research on gaming policy.

"What they have to do is come up with new gimmicks, new ways of trying to separate people from their money and to utilize what technologies that they have out there to pad their bottom line. So, this is typical behaviour for them," he said.

McKenna said that, while the technology can have positive benefits, users have to be careful.

"We need to be concerned about what the social ramifications could be in terms of people's lives."

He said young adults, who are very adept at usingvarious technological gadgets, could be particularly susceptible to gambling addiction.

"It's worrisome that they could be drawn into the cell phone use of the technology and develop a similar addiction which can lead to other stresses and strains in their lives and could lead to depression and even suicide," McKenna said.

The mobile-friendly site will be available next spring.