Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/578491
6 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 30 SEPTEMBER 2015 News 'Gambling is one of the most dangerous addictions of all' – Responsible Gaming Foundation MARTINA BORG CHAIRMAN of the Responsi- ble Gaming Foundation Silvio Schembri said that gambling is considered one of the most dan- gerous addictions out there. Speaking at the launch of the national gambling helpline and call centre, Schembri said that although gaming was an essen- tial part of the national economy, the foundation was aware of the negative effects an addiction to gaming could have, and that it had been working on the helpline for a long time. CEO of the Malta Gaming Au- thority Heathcliff Farrugia said that many people who became ad- dicted to gaming had to seek help at entities that weren't geared to do so, and that they often didn't know where to turn. "Gaming is a hobby, but when it starts taking over someone's life it can have very dire consequenc- es," Parliamentary secretary for economic growth Jose Herrera said. Herrera also spoke about an ongoing education campaign to build a sense of responsibility towards gaming amongst young schoolchildren. Schembri further explained that the national helpline would be advertised through a campaign on social media and other media outlets, as well as through leaflets distributed at health centres and clinics around the island. The foundation was supported mostly through funds from the sector itself, and aims to re-inject it into the social sphere, aside from the gaming authority's con- tribution. Schembri said that the helpline would be open to all the public, including addicts themselves and their families and relatives. He added that the helpline would also be available as an online chat system that could be accessed on www.rgf.org.mt, and that those who contact the centre could re- main anonymous and be treated with strict confidentiality. Call centre manager and so- cial worker Lorraine Mifsud said that gambling addicts often faced many consequences like social exclusion among others, and that the helpline would also be open to relatives who might not know how to deal with the issue. "Gambling addicts show no physical symptoms, but this does not mean that it should be dis- counted as a condition as it can lead to serious mental health is- sues including depression and suicidal tendencies, besides eco- nomic issues." She explained that the call cen- tre would be open every day be- tween 8am and 8pm, and that there were currently four or five telephone operators who had undergone intensive training to be able to deal with callers effec- tively. Schembri said that although there were no official statistics re- garding how many people sought assistance for gambling addic- tions, the new helpline would also collect data in this respect. He added that over the last year, the number of those opting for self-barring services had risen from some 970 in 2013 to around 1,043 in 2014. "We felt that self-barring is not the answer to all these issues, " Schembri said, explaining that when people opted for the sys- tem they effectively chose to keep themselves out of any of the Mal- ta Gaming Authority's licensed gaming outlets. "Although the service has its merits and it deserves more pro- motion, it requires a more long- term approach to tackle the ad- diction at its core," Schembri said, adding that if a person relapsed, they could very easily turn to black markets if self-barring was the only thing available. Secure Investment Secure Investment Issue of Issue of €120,000,000 120,000,000 in in Fixed Rate Malta Fixed Rate Malta Government Stocks Government Stocks (subject to the over (subject to the over-allotment option allotment option up up to to a maximum of a maximum of €60,000,000 60,000,000) MALTA GOVERNMENT MALTA GOVERNMENT STOCKS STOCKS _______ _______ (i) (i) 2% 2% Malta Government Stock Malta Government Stock (Fifth Issue) (Fifth Issue) Fungibility Fungibility Issue Issue maturing aturing in in 2020, 2020, and and _______ (ii) (ii) 2. 2.3% Malta % Malta Government Stock Government Stock (Second Issue (Second Issue) ) Fungibility Fungibility Issue Issue maturing in 2029 maturing in 2029, , or or (iii) Any combination of the above two Stocks which in the (iii) Any combination of the above two Stocks which in the aggregate shall be aggregate shall be €120,000,000 120,000,000 Fixed Rate Malta Government Stocks Applications Applications open open on on Monday Monday 5 th th October, October, 2015 2015 at at 8.30 30 a.m. and and close close on on the the time time and and dates dates as as The Treasury announces the issue of €120,000,000 Malta Government Stocks subject to an over-allotment option up to a maximum of €60,000,000 as follows: MALTA GOVERNMENT STOCK FOR SAFE INVESTMENT AND LIQUIDITY WITH INTEREST PAID UP MALTA GOVERNMENT STOCK FOR SAFE INVESTMENT AND LIQUIDITY WITH INTEREST PAID UP TO THE DAY OF RE TO THE DAY OF RE-SALE OF SALE OF STOCK STOCK SECURITY SECURITY CONTINUOUS LIQUIDITY CONTINUOUS LIQUIDITY INTEREST EVERY SIX MONTHS INTEREST EVERY SIX MONTHS (The value of the investment may go up or down during the tenor of the Stock.) Treasury Department, The Mall Building, The Mall Treasury Department, The Mall Building, The Mall - Floriana, Floriana, Malta Malta The The Price Price for for each each Stock Stock at at (i) and and (ii) (ii) above, above, offered offered for for subscription subscription by by members members of of the the public public shall shall be be established established on on Thursday Thursday 1 st st October October 2015 2015, based based indicatively indicatively on on the the prevailing prevailing secondary secondary market market prices, prices, and and shall shall be be announced announced through through a Press Press Release Release issued issued by by the the Department Department of of Information Information (DOI) (DOI). Applications Applications open open on on Monday Monday 5 th th October, October, 2015 2015 at at 8.30 30 a.m. and and close close on on the the time time and and dates dates as as hereunder, hereunder, or or earlier earlier at at the the discretion discretion of of the the Accountant Accountant General General: •at at 5.00 00 p.m. on on Wednesday Wednesday 7 th th October, October, 2015 2015 for for applications applications by by any any single single and/or and/or joint joint applicants applicants which which in in the the aggregate aggregate do do not not exceed exceed €100 100,000 000 per per person, person, and and •at at 12 12.00 00 (noon) (noon) on on Monday Monday 12 12 th th October, October, 2015 2015 for for applications applications in in the the form form of of sealed sealed bids bids (auction) (auction). Application Application forms forms may may be be obtained obtained from, from, and and lodged lodged at, at, all all Members Members of of the the Malta Malta Stock Stock Exchange Exchange and and other other authorized authorized Investment Investment Service Service Providers Providers on on the the indicated indicated dates dates. Application Application forms forms may may also also be be downloaded downloaded from from the the Treasury's Treasury's website website at at www www.treasury treasury.gov gov.mt mt with with effect effect from from Friday Friday 2 nd nd October, October, 2015 2015. Bids Bids on on the the prescribed prescribed forms forms are are to to be be transmitted transmitted by by fax fax on on 2596 2596 7210 7210 or or by by e- mail mail at at the the e-mail mail addresses addresses indicated indicated on on the the application application forms forms or or deposited deposited in in the the Tender Tender Box Box at at the the Treasury's Treasury's premises premises in in Floriana Floriana. Chairman of the Responsible Gaming Foundation Silvio Schembri