As the NDP government prepares to table its first full budget next week it is already looking at another big hole being driven through incoming revenue.

As the NDP government prepares to table its first full budget next week it is already looking at another big hole being driven through incoming revenue.

B.C’s Attorney General David Eby, who ordered a review of gaming in the province due to allegations of massive amounts of money laundering, says a serious amount of cash is involved.

“That money was going into public programs. Because B.C. gaming was located in the ministry of finance I am concerned the the priority was placed on revenue generation ahead of cracking down on this kind of activity that was happening in the casinos. There will be a financial consequence to our crackdown. I am told it is on the order of 40 to 60 million dollars perhaps that may be reduced revenue to the province because of our crackdown.”

Eby says he is also concerned about reports seven-million-dollar software BCLC uses to identify potential money laundering is “barely functioning.”

“I specifically have asked Mr. German now to have a look at this software system to advise me on where it is at and to provide recommendations about what we should be doing about that.”

Last spring lawyer and former RCMP Deputy Commissioner Peter German was tasked to review allegations of money laundering in provincial casinos.