Mixed messages and double standards
Parliament is currently debating a bill which seeks to restrict gaming on video lottery terminals on the grounds that it helps destroy families and undermines the solidity of society (see the previous post).
And now look at this report today:
The Times, Friday, 9th October 2009
Revenue from iGaming to hit €19 million
Revenue from the iGaming sector was expected to increase by 22 per cent this year to €19 million as Malta continued to position itself as the ideal location for the business, Finance Minister Tonio Fenech said yesterday. Mr Fenech said the intake in 2008 reached €15.6 million, an increase of 35 per cent over the previous year. The industry to date employs more than 2,500.
Addressing a conference on the remote gaming industry in Malta, he said the country’s success in the field was mainly attributed to its ongoing effort in maintaining its reputation as a high quality and serious jurisdiction.
He said the regulations in place in Malta were “far superior” to any other jurisdiction in terms of strict licensing procedures, strong monitoring controls and player protection mechanism.
The government’s objectives to regulate remote gaming operators were not simply to generate direct revenues from taxation, he said, but also to attract foreign direct investment and generate job opportunities and high-value careers.
Over the past five years, the Lotteries and Gaming Authority processed over 500 applications for remote gaming licences.
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Well, I suppose as long as the families which break up and the people driven to despair are mostly foreigners, then it’s OK.
Barrani? U dak min jafu!?
http://www.l-orizzont.com/news.asp?newsitemid=5277
Tghid issa rat id-dawl? Rajt ftit xebh fl-argumenti mal-parabbola li kitbet dan l-ahhar… pero din id-darba inkitbet mid-Dar tal-Hgieg. Tghid allura biex tkun progressiv u ntelletwali trid tirraguna hekk? Kemm jinbidlu z-zminijiet ….
Joseph muscat …Robin Hood of Malta… “l-izvantaggi jridu jingarru l-aktar minn min jiflah l-aktar filwaqt li l-vantaggi jiddawru l-aktar lejn min hu l-aktar fil-bzonn.” Mhux ta b’xejn hawn min ma jridx jahdem. Ipappiha ahjar!
I trust that the government is not going down the moral road now, risking scaring away this lucrative new industry. Let’s face it, 2500 jobs – and growing – is not something to be scoffed at. As I see it, this is a very fickle industry, and, just as they quickly flock after each other when a country becomes attractive to them, so they will move on to new pastures if they consider the country as no longer so attractive for their business.
I am not saying gaming is commendable, but then is drinking alcohol any more acceptable, and still we do not close drink outlets. It’s all a question of self-regulation. Imposing very strict conditions on these companies would only serve to drive the gaming industry underground, since those bent on getting their thrills from a regular bet will not suddenly stop. So, honourable ministers, tread carefully and leave the moralising to the men in frocks – the country cannot afford to lose more jobs.
Freedom of choice?
Out of subject……brilliant show yesterday at Birgufest by Tribali. Well done, guys.
Gambling was. is and will be. If we stop gambling completely because of its negative effects we should stop a million other things that are similar. Are we stopping. also, those who sit opposite a church entrance betting on who enters/exits the church first – if male or female? Or whether wearing a veil or not? We should thank God that so many jobs have been created. I am sure it is only the verb ‘to gamble’ that pits those narrow minded parliamentarians against.
Since I worked in the gaming industry, I think I can justify Minister Fenech’s move into strong monitoring controls and player protection mechanism. This is a mechanism that protects the person who is betting from being scammed, or from not being paid if the company goes bust. So financial checks should be done also.
Unfortunately, on sports books reviews, certain foreign betting companies in Malta were getting bad reviews (below red – which is bad as you can assume). I think there was also a case of a company scamming customers. Unfortunately the ‘should we tolerate/not tolerate saga’ is going on throughout Europe and it has cost me my job, but I think the government/minister are doing the right thing in putting in these checks/monitoring systems.