The social impacts of gaming

For centuries throughout human existence there have been games of chance. Since the inception of playing cards and dice in remote regions of the world, the human race has embarked to wager indefinite sums on uncertain outcomes, from the ancient Tang dynasty in China to King Henry VIII in the Middle Ages. The more things change, the more they remain the same.

With the dawn of a new technological age over the past half-century, it is neither the desire to risk your funds nor the thrill of victory that have changed, merely the delivery method. With the advent of the internet bringing the entire world closer together it's not only gambling that has become more convenient, but almost every fabric of people's lives, from buying goods and services to researching intellectual endeavors. So, instead of going to the grocery store and setting foot in a library, people can obtain satiety of these needs by flipping a switch and negotiating a mouse. Why would gambling differ?

The answer is that it won't. While one can still don the latest fashion and venture out for a night at the casino, more of the world is gaining access (legitimately or otherwise) to corporate entities proffering their services to the comfort of your own home, furthering the sentient lifestyle the internet has created.

In this aspect, Malta has truly become a microcosm of the world. The current fervor over the establishment of gaming arcades is quite a sensitive issue, with band clubs, churches and bars becoming profit centres previously reserved by the islands four casinos. While the result was predictable with the Tumas Group (representing the casinos) filing a judicial protest against the Lotteries and Gaming Authority and the Finance Ministry, the inanity lies in what that accomplished.

iGaming Profiler Malta's numerous requests to Tumas and its legal representatives regarding the impact and goal of such a filing went unrequited. Even more puzzling was the public response from Finance Minster Tonio Fenech, saying one day that they will be shut down if they "fall foul of regulations" (The Times, February 1) and over two months later stating that they cannot just close these shops down (The Times, April 30).

Another curious measure in all this is the legal age to gamble in Malta is 18 for foreigners and 25 for Maltese nationals - is this citizen protectionism or discrimination?

For Malta, it is also a question of balance. Being one of the largest regulatory regimes worldwide, online gambling tax revenue has provided the diminutive nation with its third-largest contributor behind income tax and Vat. These funds provide educational opportunities, health benefits and cultural preservation programmes to the population, to name but a few. The social benefit of gambling revenue is evident to anyone who enjoys these provisions. The dark side, which may not be as clear, is becoming more up-front as we hear more and more the negatives that are promulgating into the public eye - the woman who takes her child to school then sits in an arcade for hours, violence and extortion by black market VLT distributors and so on.

Both sides of this proverbial fence are created by those handed the power to make life in Malta a better place. Bear in mind, there is not the intention to pat the back of the government with one hand while carry a blade in the other.

The point to be made is that the inherent good of gambling is foremost to create a positive impact on people's lives - and it has. However, there are limits. The Maltese population, nor any in the world, should be made to suffer at the expense of free enterprise and needs to be rectified. The leadership of this nation should take necessary steps to seal off loopholes allowing flagrant disregard for society's quality of life and turn an eye to accentuating the positive.

Regardless of personal views relevant to the morality of gambling, it is here to stay, for good or ill. As evidenced by centuries of human existence and clear examples throughout history of the failure of prohibition, there seems to be a prevailing theme - gambling will survive.

The only variable is how bureaucrats and corporations will work together to obtain as much revenue out of people's pockets as possible and what those funds will be used for. The changes occur in the accessibility allowable by the ruling class and the delivery method afforded by technology.

For more information one may visit www.igamingprofilermalta.com or send an e-mail to editor@igamingprofilermalta.com.

The author is editor at iGaming Profiler Malta.