Gaming companies insist seized machines met Authority's own specifications

N spiteri

Aug 11th 2009, 11:47

Nixtieq nitlob lil-Ministru fenech biex ma jergax ihhalli dawn il-kaxxi tal-loghob issibu posthom gol-hwienet , inkella jkun kollhu ghalxejn , qed nghid hekk ghax ahna ghaddejna min tragedja minhabba dawn il-kaxxi tal-loghob , Dawn kienu qed ihhasru u jgiebu f'difikulta hafna familji, f'kazi fejn anke saru suwwicidju , dawn in-nies anke flus isselfuk biex tkompli tilghab , wara trid tara min fejn se thallas, jew tisraq jew terga tissellef biex thallas id-dejn, tidhol l-uzura , fl ahhar il-persuna ma jkolliex triq ohra hlief li tnehhi hajjieta , mhux qed nissagara, u min qed igieb skuza bil-lottu u super five, mhux veru ma ghandu x jaqsam xejn, dawn il-kaxxi gabu nies addicts...imwahhlin mohhom gurnata , l-ewwel net hafna minnhom tista tilghab kemm trid, m hemmx limit, naf cert li hafna laghaba hadu ir-ruh, meta marru u ma sabux kaxxi gol-hwienet, ghallhekk nitlob lil-ministru bhala ragel tal-familja biex izzom kelmtu!

Galea. L

Aug 10th 2009, 21:45

J Borg
The employees can find other more productive work than ruining families through gambling.

A. Muscat

Aug 10th 2009, 20:37

@ J Galea The global financial crises would bring global drastic changes. It’s just a matter of time; probably we will feel the wind of change in coming budget. . European Governments no longer afford to squander money to alleviate alcoholic, smoking, gambling related problems. A case in point is Britain; alcoholic health hazardous is costing the British government a fortune yearly, not to mention the money British government pays to support broken families. Global economic crises may force government to change. We may soon have new laws to prevent or make it difficult to produce alcoholic. Alike what is happening presently with cigarettes and drugs. Many peoples have been smoking and knowing the health hazardous of smoking for decades. Why suddenly every corner has turned to no-smoking area? Laws came into force only after governments could not cope anymore with smoking-related problems. It’s all about money. If buying a drink or a packet of cigarettes cost a whole day payee, then one must refine priorities.

J S Borg

Aug 10th 2009, 20:17

@J Borg And habitual/addicted gamblers contemplate suicide.

philip pace

Aug 10th 2009, 20:16

To all concerned including Mr.Tonio Fenech. Are gambling machines allowed to operate in Malta? There is a law made by the Labour Government in the 1970s. Has this been repelled, changed or amended as the rest of the laws are in Parliament or there have been unofficial talks between the Government and the operators without the gamblers present to ensure a level playing field? Has there been a wise guy from the past 1987-1991 Government who managed to bend the law to help operators to restart introducing the gambling machines? I write gambling machine not amusement machine. Any sensible and true answers?

Manuel Mangani

Aug 10th 2009, 17:47

@R. Micallef: These gambling-shops were not simply responding to a demand; they were also creating further demand with their very presence, and initiating a number of people who would not normally gamble into the activity, with its all its addictive potential.

The more outlets there are, the bigger the number of users and the bigger the number of potential addicts. Any move which aims to clamp down on the availability of the possibility to gamble should be supported by all well-meaning citizens.

J Galea

Aug 10th 2009, 17:03

@ Mr Muscat

With the same reasoning Malta should ban Alcohol and Cigarettes then.

It is down to the individual to control his/her habits. You can gamble from the comfort of your home on the internet.

A. Muscat

Aug 10th 2009, 16:26

Gambling of all forms should be banned. Money generated from gambling doesn’t help the economy of both the country and individuals; actually all money generated from gambling is classified as toxic assets (one of the reasons behind global financial troubles we are facing). As for the negative affect of gambling on both society and families every body knows the magnitude of this evil called gambling.

Albert Farrugia

Aug 10th 2009, 15:21

All well and good that the government is clamping down in widespread gambling. However many questions come to mind....is it possible that so many outlets began operating openly, with plainly visible shop-signs in mains streets throughout Malta and Gozo, if they knew they were acting illegally? And what kind of a law-enforcement system do we have here which allows an illegal situation to carry on for years on end, and then one fine day all hell is let loose?
Were these outlets operating legally, or not? Its that simple. If they were legal, why the heavy-handed police action. If not, why was the heavy-handed police action taken only now and not before? If i am not mistaken Minister Tonio Fenech spoke of a some re-interpretation of the law. As far as i know, only the Courts have the power to interpret laws.
An appeal from a common citizen....what is really going on?

M Spiteri

Aug 10th 2009, 15:17

Magni tal-loghob kien hawn kullumkien anke go clubs u barijiet li zaghazh jiffrekwentaw u mhux sewwa ghax xi darba jew ohra se tilghab , differenti milli jkollok tmur il-casino, ghallhekk naghmel appell lil Ministru biex dawn il-magni ma jergawx isibu ruhhom ma kullumkien, dawn huma rovina tas -socjeta , u is-sidien kienu qed jaghmlu balal tal-liri !

Robert Micallef

Aug 10th 2009, 15:02

@ J Oatmon,

These companies were supplying for a demand and there is demand for these arcade games.
The owners of the casino will be very happy to hear this as now they will reap more money to invest away from our shores!

J Borg

Aug 10th 2009, 14:27

Apart that these companies have employed hundreds of employees who are now risking unemployment !

J Oatmon

Aug 10th 2009, 13:35

Gambling is a complete waste of money for the gamblers, the only people who benefit are those providing the machines - they reap the profits.
There are slot machines at the casino's for proper supervised use (no under age kids gambling etc).
In my opinion Malta does not need to start raising a new generation of gullible young gamblers.

The disadvantages outweigh the benefits with gambling, just like the noisy dangerous fireworks.