'Gambling is one of the most dangerous addictions of all' - Responsible Gaming Foundation

Responsible Gaming Foundation launches a National Gambling Helpline on 1777

Chairman of the responsible gaming foundation Silvio Schembri said that gambling is considered one of the most dangerous addictions out there.

Speaking at the launch of the national gambling helpline and call centre, Schembri said that although gaming was an essential part of the national economy, the foundation was aware of the negative effects an addiction to gaming could have, and that it had been working on the helpline for a long time. 

CEO of the Malta Gaming Authority Heathcliff Farrugia said that many people who became addicted to gaming had to seek help at entities that weren't geared to do so, and that they often didn't know where to turn.

"Gaming is a hobby, but when it starts taking over someone's life it can have very dire consequences," Parliamentary secretary for economic growth Jose Herrera said.

Herrera also spoke about an ongoing education campaign to build a sense of responsibility towards gaming amongst young schoolchildren.

Schembri further explained that the national helpline would be advertised through a campaign on social media and other media outlets, as well as through leaflets distributed at health centres and clinics around the island.

The foundation was supported mostly through funds from the sector itself, and aims to re-inject it into the social sphere, aside from the gaming authority's contribution.

Schembri said that the helpline would be open to all the public, including addicts themselves and their families and relatives. He added that the helpline would also be available as an online chat system.

Call centre manager and social worker Lorraine Mifsud said that gambling addicts often faced many consequences like social exclusion among others, and that the helpline would also be open to relatives who might not know how to deal with the issue.

"Gambling addicts show no physical symptoms, but this does not mean that it should be discounted as a condition as it can lead to serious mental health issues including depression and suicidal tendencies, besides economic issues." 

She explained that the call centre would be open between 8am and 8pm, and that there were currently four or five telephone operators who had undergone intensive training to be able to deal with callers effectively. 

Schembri said that although there were no official statistics regarding how many people sought assistance for gambling addictions, the new helpline would also collect data in this respect.

He added that over the last year, the number of those opting for self-barring services had risen frome 970 in 2013 to around 1,043 in 2014.

“We felt that self-barring is not the answer to all these issues, “ Schembri said, explaining that when people opted for the system they effectively chose to keep themselves out of any of the Malta Gaming Authority’s licensed gaming outlets.

“Although the service has its merits and it deserves more promotion, it requires a more long-term approach to tackle the addiction at its core,” Schembri said adding that if a person relapsed, they could very easily turn to black markets if self- barring was the only thing available.