Popular TVM game show Deal or No Deal was rapped by the Broadcasting Authority last week because one of its participants, an avid poker player, failed to adequately highlight the dangers of gambling.
The game show itself, an international franchise, is all about taking risks to win as much money as possible. But the BA accused Deal or No Deal of "bad taste" following complaints received from the Social Policy Ministry and the Foundation for Social Welfare Services.
During the programme, participant Jeremy Perici Calascione spoke about his job in the online gaming industry, adding that his dream was to take part in a poker championship in Las Vegas. The programme also included an interview with an international poker player during a championship held in a local casino.
"The implied messages (throughout the programme) were indecent... and gave the impression there is no risk in playing poker and that it is a game of entertainment. These messages could encourage people to start playing poker," the BA's charge read.
Producer Pablo Micallef said poker was considered a sport worldwide, so much so that it received coverage on sports channel ESPN. He added that an international TV channel dedicated to the game was broadcast 24 hours a day in Malta through cable networks.
He said gambling games, including poker, were also freely available on the internet, even on social networking websites frequented by children such as Facebook and hi5.
"Why is it OK for the government to go on about how the gambling industry is boosting Malta's economy but not for us to speak about a poker championship? Shall we also do away with adverts of Super 5 and Lotto?"
The programme is also being charged with covert advertising because during its feature, it mentioned the venue of the poker championship: the Portomaso Casino. If the BA rules against them, the producers face a €931 fine.
In its monitoring report, the BA outlines other instances of bad taste during the programme - creating some doubt on the specific nature of the charges.
"In the introduction, the participant says his nickname is Nessie because when his friends saw him naked they confused him with the Loch Ness monster," the BA gave as one example.
It also complained about a remark the participant made about his girlfriend, where he said he made her come back from modelling abroad because there would have been consequences.
"Another comment with implications of 'bad taste' and lack of sensitivity was when the participant said his parents probably gave him tranquilisers when he was young to calm him down, since he was hyperactive and very naughty."
The BA pointed out that this was a recorded programme so such instances could have been edited out. Last week, two other cases were discussed by the BA because of bad taste, including a televised photo shoot at a cemetery and a game show in which a man of short stature was placed with a team identifying itself as 'ugly'.
The cases will be ruled upon this week after hearings by the BA's board.