Bishops urge MPs to consider consequences of gambling
The Bishops of Malta and Gozo have urged MPs to consider the harmful consequences of gambling on individuals, families and society when they discuss amendments to the Lotteries and Gaming Act in Parliament.
In a statement, the Bishops said that while recreation was important for people, they were concerned that some people had been drawn to compulsive gambling.
"Gambling is growing at an alarming rate. Such gambling undermines human dignity. This is the fruit of a culture which is losing the true meaning of life and social life, a culture which measures everything by the bottom line and wants to promote only that which yields so-called economic progress," the Bishops said.
Compulsive gambling was as harmful as alcohol and drug dependence. When people lost control over their actions, gambling became inhuman and immoral, the Church leaders said.
"Legislation is democratic when it truly safeguards the freedom of all the members of society. Society is more free when it is able to limit the freedom of the powerful that can be detrimental to the weak," the Bishops said, pointing out that in the case of gambling, addiction weakened the freedom of its victims.
The Bishops warned against forms of gambling which at first glance appeared harmless but which could lead people down the path to harmful gambling. No worthy end could justify such means.
The Bishops said that in the context of proposed new legislation on gambling currently before Parliament, they were urging MPs to act responsibly, mindful of the serious consequences which compulsive gambling could cause on individuals, families and society. MPs should not only consider economic progress, but also the common good.
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joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Oct 27th 2009, 06:04
Oh, please, don't confuse the tombla with the casino! Casinos serve no purpose other than to rip off the gamblers. That is how they exist. Just think of the little children who go without a feed because their selfish parents lost their wages and did not get their priorities right. And the violence that follows. And the suicides. My philosophy is simple: if you want money, work for it. You seldom get it through gambling. True, the Church has to set a good example but even if what it does is occasionally wrong, it does not justify the existence of gambling houses in Malta.
Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Oct 27th 2009, 05:58
I do not think anyone would think of me as a wowser but in this instance I wholeheartedly support the stance taken by Mgrs Cremona, Grech and Depasquale. It's one thing to buy a ticket at the lotto and quite another thing to turn these dens of gambling into social events. This is what really kills the family, parents throwing their hard earned cash into colourful machines, not two men or two women loving each other. All gambling houses and casinos should be closed. Sadly, governments have come to rely on the taxes brought by these places. And who said the Gonzi government was not family-friendly?
Andrew Bezzina
Oct 25th 2009, 00:14
Hi, I would like to know more about what the new legislation entails. I agree that these gaming shops that cropped up around all our towns are probably to the detriment to society as they are pure gambling grounds. Although I would like to make an important point that is to often ignored, that is the difference between games of pure chance (eg. slot machines, traditional casino games like roulette etc.) and skill games like poker(and i don't mean video poker here) and to a certain extent sports betting. I think that in the legislation a clear distinction must be made between the two.
Thus i hope online poker is not made illegal, as this is an activity which i enjoy playing at low limits and responsibly (and making a bit of profit sometimes). Also I think the legal age of entrance to casinos should be made 21 for both foreigners and Maltese to bring it in line with legislation in other countries like the USA.
charles zammit
Oct 24th 2009, 19:53
it is heartening to see that the maltese religious leaders came out though belatedly against one of the social cancers that is hitting the maltese society.
in a lighter vein it seems no one offered the bishops a free flight to a football match.
A. Muscat
Oct 24th 2009, 18:21
Gambling and alcohol are two of too many man-made evils that break marriages, destroy families and societies. Damages caused by these two evils outnumber damages caused by any lethal weapons and any malady including what’s so called swine flu (which is in my opinion a purposely re-activated virus too!). I would also like to add that damages caused by gambling and alcohol outnumber any profits.
Klaus Micallef
Oct 24th 2009, 18:04
Government must take immediate action to ban all advertising in any form on gambling activities. Today we get a whole 2-page supplement in the newspaper telling us the odds on sports betting. And then you open the radio or TV and you hear a female voice asking us "Se tiehu cans?" But then again, on second thoughts, Government cannot do without the money from gambling activities, just as some parish priests cannot do without the income from their tombolas and coffee mornings.
J.Camilleri
Oct 24th 2009, 17:04
And what about television network programmes that incite people to phone and answer some silly question and charge an average of 50c per call, for a chance to win thrash vouchers or some other ridiculous prizez.!
C.Farrugia
Oct 24th 2009, 16:31
The social aspect when regulating such sectors should always be given importance, and everybody understands the church's interest in that aspect. That is precisely why the same church together with sedqa and the same operators had been part of the consultaion process in the previous proposed regulations. These regulations have been completely scraped and new regulations have been drawn up without any consultation whatsoever and with only one intention which is making it unfeasible for the operator to operate.
If operators will not be present what will happen is exactly the following:
1: Gaming will go underground without control and to detriment of the player.
2: Players will be forced to go to casinos were no limit is set on what can be bet.
3: No control on compulsive gamblers in case of illegal gaming.
It is true that Legislation is democratic but only when it is fair for all parties. What is being proposed is not and no real social aspect is being given and interest.
A.Busuttil
Oct 24th 2009, 15:32
How about coffee morning with tombolas organized by some parish priests?????????
Sandro Agius
Oct 24th 2009, 15:25
Alfred Mangion....qed thallat il-hass mal-qarabali xbin...tidher li qatt ma mort t-tombla tal-kappillan...kif insejhula...dawk imorru biex jghaddu siegha zmien fid-drawwa antika Maltija u hadd ma hareg bil-guh minn dawn it-tombli li qed isemmi...fejn in-nies jafu li dawn huma fund raising activities u mhux loghob ta azzard...Dwar li qed issemmi ta' l-Imgarr....dak irkant u mhux imhatri...fejn l-istess flus flok joqghodu jhabbtu bieb bieb jingabru b'dan il-mod u b'mod volontarju min nies li jhobb l-knisja u jikkontrubwixxu ghal manutenzjoni taghha....nahseb li zlaqt fin-niexef.
Dwar il-gambling...dawn il-hwienet m'ghandniex x'nambuhom mas-saqqajn fl-irhula taghna....zgur m'humiex ta' gid ghal komunita.
Patrick bellia
Oct 24th 2009, 14:37
hawn min ihobb il festa, u mal festa diga ha nqabbdu dwiefer, u madankollu jekk il flus huma tieghi kif jista jigi xi hadd jikkmandani x naghmel bi flusi, allura jekk noqghodu sejrin hekk nimmagina li ha jsir xi haga fuq tombli lottu super5 etc ghax il loghob mhux online biss isir u kif qal tajjeb Mr mangion hawn min jiggembilja biex jerfa statwa allura dak ok
Frans Sammut
Oct 24th 2009, 14:31
As John Micallef says, gamblers will be gamblers. That however does not imply that the bishops should refrain from highlighting the societal harm resulting from this ... what shall I call it, habit, vice, compulsion, particularly when it is perceived simply as a way of getting rich on the inclinations of others? Besides, the difference between tombola and gambling is so wide, that it does not bear mentioning, and ... the money spent on the 'privilege' of carrying the local patron saint around in full regalia (sic) is so ... silly, that mentioning it in this context is simply a deviation, or diversion, from the issue under review.
In sum, I feel I must support the bishops' plea and reckon others should do likewise, if they have the good of society at heart.
Malcolm Seychell
Oct 24th 2009, 13:38
Well said Alfred Mangion
Alfred Mangion
Oct 24th 2009, 13:25
L-arcisqof jaf kemm hawn knejjes li jorganizzaw tombla. U fuq il-flus li johorgu ir-reffiegha ta l-imgarr biex jerfghu l-istatwa titulari. L-imhatri mhux loghob ta l-azzard wkoll?
John Micalelf
Oct 24th 2009, 13:06
Gamblers will always be gamblers.
By putting in place a proper legislation, at least the Gov will try to control it and know what is really happening in this arena.
The legislation will also employ people in the industry and this will increase the professionalism of the operators.
Gambling is not nice, but neither is smoking or the manufacturing of lethal firearms, but it does not stop these from being produced.
Tonio Bone
Oct 24th 2009, 12:45
As far as I know online gambling is illegal in the United States. In countries like Norway online gambling is not only illegal, even advertising it is. But this is Malta. Anything that makes money makes it's way here. I really cannot understand how we've not become the 'Singapore of the Med'. Oh I forgot, our riches are in the Caymans.......!