Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/470920
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 1 MARCH 2015 News 7 JAMES DEBONO A staggering €57 million was played in bets in Malta's 42 gaming parlours in 2014. While bets increased by €10 mil- lion over 2013 figures, the number of people who ban themselves for either six months or a year from all licensed gaming premises has risen from 970 in 2013 to 1,043 in 2014. These statistics were given by the parliamentary secretariat for business and economic growth in reply to ques- tions by MaltaToday. The money played in Malta's 42 gaming parlours has increased from €46,815,952 in 2013 to €56,712,711, which translates into a 21% rise. In the same period winnings al- so increased from €41,706,031 to €51,591,570. The gross gaming revenue made by gaming parlours went up slightly from €5,109,921 to €5,121,140. Despite this small increase in profits, the tax collected by the government declined by €308,579 from €1,359,258 to €1,050,679. The decrease in tax revenue reflects the change in tax model for Gaming Devices, which came into effect in March 2014. No information presently exists on the number of persons who frequent- ed gaming parlours, so the increase in bets can either mean the same people are playing more or that more people are attending gaming parlours. "The latter would be a better option for a responsible gaming culture as this would mean more people playing re- sponsibly," Labour MP Silvio Schem- bri, who chairs the Responsible Gam- ing Foundation, told MaltaToday. Schembri said the statistics show a clear correlation between an increase in money played and an increase in winnings. "Gaming parlours are be- coming more and more popular." Currently there are 42 gaming par- lours in Malta, found in 26 localities in Malta and Gozo, including socially depressed areas like Bormla, Isla and Marsa and even small villages like Gudja. But Schembri insists that the popu- larity of gaming parlours does not nec- essarily mean that these are having a negative social impact. "One has to realise that gaming should be considered as a recreational activity rather than a money-making habit. So more gaming parlours does not necessarily mean that they are pro- moting a less responsible culture." As long as marketing is responsible and there is adequate monitoring, follow-ups and preventative measures, gaming parlours can still form part of "a culture of responsible gaming," Schembri said. Compulsive gamblers Caritas spokesperson Marica Mizzi distinguished between those who are compulsive gamblers and have an ad- diction, and others who do not have this problem. But people who are not compulsive gamblers may have other problems, such as spending their limited incomes on gambling and therefore denying their families other needs, Mizzi said. Caritas is the only organisation in Malta to organise self-help groups on the model of Alcoholics Anonymous. MaltaToday talked to one of the per- sons who works with gambling addicts in these groups. "The fact that gaming parlours have mushroomed in nearly all towns and villages increases the temptation for compulsive gamblers," he told Malta- Today on condition of anonymity. But the same source confirmed that these parlours are only one temptation among many others for compulsive gamblers, who can now find a wider choice of games in lotto outlets and by the growing availability of online games. He also referred to a small but no- ticeable increase in senior gamblers who develop the addiction at old age when they have little else to do. "One can perceive an increase in older peo- ple who take up the gambling habit in old age when they have little else to do. For this category there are more op- tions than ever." Self-barred gamblers One indication of a growing gam- bling problem is that in 2014, 1,043 persons have signed a declaration through which they can bar them- selves from all gaming premises. 563 have barred themselves for six months while 480 have barred them- selves for 12 months. This number of persons who barred themselves from casinos and gaming parlours for either six or 12 months has increased from 910 in 2012 to 970 in 2013 to 1,043 now. All gaming parlours are obliged by law to deny entry to anyone who has signed a self-barring declaration. "This statistic shows that a considerable number of people had no alternative but to withhold themselves from this activity altogether," Schembri told MaltaToday. For Schembri this shows that some behavioural addictions cannot be con- trolled. This also underlines the im- portance of preventative "awareness campaigns". Marica Mizzi insisted that compul- sive gamblers do not stop their addic- tion simply by barring themselves for six months or for a year but by seeking treatment. "We are faced with people who are torn by anxiety as the day when the self bar period expires approaches… in some cases people end up betting record sums as soon as the period ex- pires only to renew the ban after going bankrupt again," one of the persons working in the Caritas programme told MaltaToday. But self-barring is an important step for addicts attending Gamblers Anon- ymous classes, especially in the initial period when the temptation to relapse could be greater. The gaming saga Nested inside residential areas, some 100 gaming outlets were allowed to open in the 2000s when normal shops started being converted through a simple 'change-of-use' permit from the MEPA, and a trading licence. New rules in 2009 followed a clamp- down by the government, seeing some of these parlours closed, and forbid- ding them within 75 metres of places of worship, schools and playgrounds. Earlier last week, the Malta Gaming Authority amended the rules to allow gaming parlours to open in the vicin- ity of language schools, which are fre- quented by young people from other countries. The MGA said this would give great- er certainty to licensees and applicants of gaming parlours and ensure that restrictions "are those which are abso- lutely necessary in order to safeguard the general public". 8% of money collected from gaming taxes go to the Responsible Gaming Foundation. "Unfortunately in Malta, unlike in other countries, operators are not obliged to contribute directly to organisations such as the responsi- ble gaming foundation," Silvio Schem- bri said. €10 million increase in parlour betting CAREER OPPORTUNITY e Malta Environment and Planning Authority is committed to ensure that land use and the protection of the environment meet the needs of today's society and future communities. PLANNING TECHNICIAN/S e role requires a person who would be providing technical support in the processing of Development Planning Applications. Applicants must be in possession of: - Qualications: Secondary level education with four passes at 'O' level including Maltese, English and a technical subject or equivalent qualications, and preferably having obtained Higher Certicate in Land Administration (Planning), or Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment. Good understanding of the planning process. - Skills: Interpersonal, report writing, communication and data collection and analysis skills and preferably computer literate. - Experience of development control or survey work, analysis and interpretation of data, or of one of the Planning Directorate's specialised areas of work, and of working with professionals in a planning's / architect's oce for 2 - 3 years. Interested candidates are advised to submit their application quoting ETC number, together with a detailed curriculum vitae by Sunday 8 th March 2015 to : e Human Resources Manager Malta Environment and Planning Authority Ref: Planning Technician ETC Permit No 21 / 2015 via email on jobapplications@mepa.org.mt For further information visit our website: www.mepa.org.mt/org-current-openings-at-mepa. MOSTA – situated in a quaint location, a large house of character with lots of natural light, set on two floors with high ceilings, central courtyard, spacious garage, entrance hall, kitchen, living room, laundry room and spare toilet at ground floor level. At first floor level one finds three large double-bedrooms (circa 5.6m x 4m per bedroom), en-suite bathroom, separate main bathroom and study. This property is complemented by a second courtyard with four additional large rooms which can be converted into an extension to this already spacious property or a separate flatlet. €435,000 freehold. Call on 99434606, no agents please. How much gets played 2013 2014 Money played in gaming parlours €46.8m €56.7m Winnings €41.7m €51.6m Gross revenue €5.1m €5.1m Tax €1.4m €1.1m Self-barring by gamers 2012 2013 2014 Self-Barred for 6 months 456 502 563 Self-Barred for 12 months 454 468 480 TOTAL 910 970 1,043