Repercussions of uncontrolled gaming on the family

MPs talk about repercussions of uncontrolled gaming on the family
by Francesca Vella

MPs who participated in Wednesday’s parliamentary debate on amendments to the law regulating lotteries and gaming spoke in particular about the repercussions of uncontrolled gaming on the family, and the need to have a strong regulatory framework. They mentioned different types of gaming – from tombola games and lotteries, to online betting and match-fixing in football, among others.

Carmelo Abela, Labour’s main spokesperson for social policy, proposed the possibility of gaming companies paying a contribution that would go towards the support services aimed at helping people get out of the habit of excessive gaming.

The strengthening of such services is extremely important, he said, and it might be a good idea for a percentage of these companies’ income to go towards this cause.

Mr Abela said the proposed amendments give you mixed feelings because while the economic aspect of the gaming sector is important, the social aspect is more important.

The gaming sector generates about 8 to 9% of the country’s GDP, but it is still important to diversify economic activity and attract investment in other sectors, he said.

Mr Abela, like other MPs, mentioned the need to strengthen law enforcement and he spoke about the repercussions of uncontrolled gaming on the family.

“We need to send out a clear message that people who have problems related to gaming need help and the support services need to be strengthened. At the same time, there needs to be an education campaign highlighting the repercussions of excessive gaming and related problems such as usury.”

Mr Abela quoted international studies which show that apart from having a catastrophic effect on one’s financial situation, excessive and uncontrolled gaming has a negative effect on relationships, as well as work and family responsibilities.

Earlier, Labour’s spokesperson for the family, children and people with disabilities, Justyne Caruana, said it is very easy for people to get hooked and take the habit to an extreme.

Like other MPs, she mentioned the Super 5 lottery when the prize is very high, saying that a number of people spend a lot of money on tickets and end up not buying necessary items such as certain foodstuffs. She also referred to betting related to dog fighting and other forms of animal cruelty, as well as betting related to elections.

Dr Caruana went on to say that excessive gaming can also be a generational issue. The best educators are parents, so if they have a gaming habit, their problem needs to be addressed, she said.

She mentioned people who go from one coffee morning to another to play tombola and don’t necessarily realise they may have a problem.

“We also need to work harder to attack usury, which has strong ties with gaming and gambling.”

Moreover, said Dr Caruana, the country needs a comprehensive policy that focuses on the problem of gaming and its effects on the family.

Nationalist MP Jean Pierre Farrugia, on his part, spoke in particular about corruption in sport, particularly in the football sector, saying that there need to be efforts to avoid driving football betting underground.

Betting services for local football would lead to the creation of regulatory mechanisms. Having a sense of organisation in this sector would help ensure that underground betting is kept to a minimum, he said.