Bishops urge MPs to consider evils of gambling

The bishops have urged MPs to consider the harmful consequences of gambling on society when they discuss amendments to the Lotteries and Gaming Act in Parliament.

Parliamentarians should keep in mind the country's wellbeing rather than 'economic progress', the bishops said.

In a statement, Archbishop Paul Cremona, Gozo Bishop Mario Grech and Auxiliary Bishop Annetto Depasquale said that while recreation was important, they were concerned that some people had been drawn to compulsive gambling.

They said that gambling undermined human dignity and yet it was growing at an alarming rate.

The bishops likened gambling to alcoholism and drug addiction, saying that when a person lost self-control and was dependent on it, gambling becomes inhumane and immoral.

"Society would be doing a greater favour to freedom by imposing limits on the reckless freedoms taken by those who are well-off which, if not controlled, can lead to the destruction of the weak. When it comes to gambling, the freedom of the individual is also threatened by the burden of gaming addiction.

"There is no means of justifying gambling as it goes against what is just. Games should be used by people; people should not be used by games," the bishops said.

"How can we ever justify or promote something which can cause psychological, moral and economic ruin; ruin families and even cause physical damage to so many of its victims?" they said.