A survey carried out between 2015 and 2016 by the Malta Gaming Authority found that more than half (56 per cent) of the adult population in Malta engaged in gaming activities in 2015, a figure close to 195,300 people.

They spent a total of €125 million, or just under three per cent of household consumption expenditure and, remarkably, about a quarter of the total expenditure on recreational and cultural activities. Playing the national lottery was the most popular of gambling pastime and tombola engaged almost 42,000 players for an average of 70 minutes each week. Expenditure on gaming parlours and other outlets followed the national lottery as the next most popular.

The watchdog noted that “gaming services have become an essential component of household consumption, especially with respect to recreational activities,” wisely adding that “they may entail elements of contribution to economic activity and socialisation but may also lead to threats to the sustainability of lifestyles”. Their report also draws attention to the gaming regulator’s role in consumer protection and promoting responsible attitudes in gaming behaviour.

Some of the highlights to emerge from the report show that 56 per cent of the population aged 18 years and over who played such games spent an average of €12.30 a week. Just under half engaged in so-called “free gaming”, including internet games and “free-to-play” digital games.

People over 45 years old, with an educational attainment up to secondary level and unemployed, were most likely to engage in paid gambling activities. While 66 per cent of players spent no more than two per cent of their income on gaming, almost one in 10 spent more than a tenth of their income on gambling. Between one and two per cent felt their behaviour had a negative impact on their lives. Startlingly, a similar proportion spent as much as 60 per cent of what they earned on gambling.

Presenting the findings, the regulator’s chairman said the study “should help all stakeholders to shape policies based on scientific data, rather than impressions or myths”. He pointed out that the survey also “gave size and scale to the potential gambling addiction problems in Malta” and its economic and social effects.

In the regulator’s judgment, the raw findings suggest that problems associated with regular gambling “remain contained”. Still, it intends to carry out a wide-ranging regulatory overhaul this year “to enhance its engagement with vulnerable consumers”.

Non-governmental organisations, intimately familiar with the adverse social impact of gambling addiction, highlighted the need to address problems related to illegal gambling – which is reputedly rife in Malta – by increasing public awareness of the risks and pitfalls of “irresponsible gaming” as well as strengthening the need for greater prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of gambling addicts.

It is vital that such NGOs, which have first-hand experience of some of the dreadful social issues stemming from gambling, are fully engaged in the regulatory overhaul.

Furthermore, the Malta Gaming Authority should support initiatives aimed at ensuring that more resources are dedicated to training professionals in gambling addiction. Together with the NGOs, it should also work to raise greater public awareness of the risks and perils of irresponsible gambling.

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