Halifax — Fewer people are playing Nova Scotia's video lottery terminals, resulting in a multimillion-dollar drop in revenues for the government, says the province's gambling corporation.

The Crown corporation says measures such as the withdrawal of 800 machines on Nov. 1, 2005, and reductions in playing time have cut back gambling on the controversial machines.

Some gambling experts argue the VLTs result in addictions that lead to heavy debt loads, family conflicts and even suicide.

In its annual report, released Friday, the gaming corporation indicates revenues from the machines fell from $200.2 million last year to $182.2 million this year, a decrease of nine per cent.

Machines also are now required to be closed down at midnight, and the stop-button feature which allows players to control the pace of the game has been removed.

"It's primarily a decrease because of the decrease in the VLT revenue and that was a result of the gaming strategy changes that were initiated," said Margaret McGee, a spokeswoman for the corporation.

The changes also include another 200 VLT machines being removed through attrition.

In addition, as of Jan. 1, the speed of play on the machines has been reduced by 30 per cent.

Ticket lottery revenue at the corporation is up due to several major jackpots this year that have fed into lottery sales and the introduction of a new daily draw game called Bucko.

However, the overall contribution to the province from gambling revenues has fallen from $187 million last year, to $174 million this year.

McGee said the corporation expects further reductions in its VLT revenues.

She said the corporation is estimating that VLT revenues will fall by $60 million _ or 29 per cent _ compared to the revenues that came in before control measures were introduced in April 2005.

The corporation estimates, based on a 2003 study, that there are still about 7,000 people with gambling problems in the province.

In the recent provincial election campaign, the Liberals said they would unplug the roughly 2,234 video lottery terminals still in operation.

The NDP said it would hold a plebiscite on the issue, while the Tories have said they will keep the machines in place.

Some anti-gambling groups are also calling for the government to pull the plug on all of the machines.

McGee said that decision will be up to the province, but noted there's concern it would give rise to an illegal trade in the machines.

"Government firmly believes that having regulated VLTs is the safer option, rather than going to a grey market where there's no responsible gambling, no social responsiblity and no safety net for people," she said.