As chairman of the Responsible Gaming Foundation, I have recently come across an array of different situations related to problem gambling.
Is there enough awareness about it? Is there enough local research about it? Where can people suffering from such a condition find the right help and support that they need? Are we preparing our youngsters about such realities? What alternative activities is our society offering to gaming and gambling?
Gaming in itself is an ordinary leisure activity, just like any other. However, instances may occur where this activity turns into a habit or what we call a behavioural addiction.
Problem gambling can negatively affect significant areas of a person’s life that include health, employment, finances and interpersonal relationships (Griffiths, 2010). The foundation’s mission, as stated below is, in fact, to help prevent the problem and assist problem gamblers turn their luck around.
This is our mission: “To create a wider awareness of the extent, possible causes and consequences of problem gaming in Malta with a view to preventing it and to provide the necessary support and advice to problem gamblers and their dependents in their recovery efforts.”
The foundation, in collaboration with the Malta Gaming Authority, aims to put in place the necessary checks and balances to prevent the abuse of gambling and the proliferation of compulsive gambling. It also supports agencies and organisations which engage in research and programmes for prevention and education.
It ensures the management of the responsible gaming fund, to conduct research initiatives, encourage activities alternative to gaming and to foster further education in the fields of responsible gaming and related behavioural addictions, among others.
At EU level, between 0.5 per cent and two per cent of those who make use of gaming services end up with some sort of addiction. Youths are five times more exposed to addiction than adults.
The report ‘Problem gambling in Europe’ (2010) highlighted the fact that most of the problem gamblers tend to be electronic gaming machine players. Moreover, availability of opportunities to gamble and the incidence of problem gambling within a community are known to be linked (Griffiths, 2010).
Related to addiction, one can note that excessive internet use can also lead to the development of a behavioural addiction. Similarities between different types of addiction, notably internet and gaming addictions were also documented (Kuss & Griffiths, 2012).
On the aspect of digital and video games, one could note that Maltese tend to play the latter about once a day for an average of an hour. A report on digital and video usage emphasised the fact that Maltese people prefer to play alone or with friends over the internet rather than with family or friends in a traditional home setting (MCA, 2013).
The lack of social interaction that results from obsessive gaming can have long-term social consequences.
The lack of social interaction that results from obsessive gaming can have long-term social consequences
The social awkwardness created by the isolationism of gaming addiction, unfortunately, feeds the addiction. The gaming addict will likely retreat back to his online world where relationships are easier and already waiting for him.
Hence, gaming addictions also need to be tackled since these might lead to gambling addictions. The foundation shall embark on research projects to investigate such correlations and other related areas.
The foundation also believes that gaming addiction can be linked to other behavioural addictions. Excessive internet use, for instance, can also lead to the development of a behavioural addiction. Similarities between different types of addiction, notably internet and gaming addictions have been documented (Kuss & Griffiths, 2012).
Gaming is a pleasurable and appealing pastime activity for children. So the latter might be more vulnerable and susceptible to addiction (Griffiths, 2009).
Addictions tend to have precursors during adolescence and dependencies tend to develop in early adulthood (Griffiths, 2011). Also, adolescents may use online games as a way of coping with stress and gaming can become a dysfunctional media-focused coping strategy (Thalemann, 2009).
Relationships between problematic gaming and the ways in which adolescents cope with stress and frustrations have been reported (Wolfing. Thalemann & Grusser, 2008). Prevention efforts must be established that target children and adolescents who have their first experiences with addictive behaviours (Wolfing & Muller, 2009) and it is for this reason that the foundation launched an educational campaign with all Year IV kids of Malta and Gozo about responsible gaming and related behavioural addictions.
Data provided in the National Lifestyle Survey (NSO, 2009) highlighted the fact that the popularity of bingo, lotteries and gambling is highly relative to the age of the persons. In fact, the popularity varied and we have about three per cent among those aged 18 to 24, 8.4 per cent in the 45-54 years category and 15 per cent in the case of those aged 65 or over.
In Malta, this also varies according to sex, where 11 per cent of females state that bingo, lotteries and gambling are considered as a hobby compared to 6.1 per centof males.
The popularity of these activities also varies in different parts of Malta: 9.3 per cent in the southern harbour region while 6.4 per cent in Gozo considered these as hobbies.
Pathological gambling (PG) is recognised and listed among WHO’s international classification of diseases and related health problems. In order to tackle related support services, the foundation will create a helpline and provide guidance for psychosocial services.
Problematic gamblers need a lot of help and guidance. More often than not, it is not only the gamblers themselves who are affected and need help but also their families and dependents.
As part of the preventative measures, the foundation will be monitoring adverts issued by companies. Care will also be taken so that related adverts promote gaming to be used for leisure purposes only and not portrayed as a money-making habit.
Often, the people who suffer from problem gambling are not just the gamblers. Therefore, the remit of the foundation covers both the gamblers and their dependents.
We believe that the role of the Responsible Gaming Foundation will strengthen the gaming industry in the Maltese islands because both the gamers and the gaming companies would have peace of mind.
Silvio Schembri is a Labour MP and chairman of the Responsible Gaming Foundation.