Gambling is one of the world’s oldest yet most controversial activities. It occupies the hearts and minds of many as its seductiveness lies in the promise of effortless profit by taking a risk, a chance on an event, the outcome of which is yet unknown.

Gambling is not possible without money or something valuable, as the main objective of both the gambling operator and the gambler is to make money. Gambling operators are no philanthropic organisations and, just like in any other business, they conduct their enterprise with the prime aim of making a profit.

They do not invest their capital and then just let “luck” take its course. All gambling activities are based on mathe-matical principles structured in a way so that, on average, the gambling operator always has an advantage. This “house margin” enables the operator to collect more money than it has to fork out.

Gambling is inevitable, no matter what is said or done by its advocates or opponents. It is an activity that is practised or tacitly endorsed by a substantial majority. However, recent advances in technology have fuelled intense growth in this industry, and in a relatively short time it has managed to reinvent itself as a legitimate source of entertainment.

This liberalisation on a global scale in these last few years has created a new gambling scenario of exposure and opportunity never witnessed before. “Gaming” is subtly taking the place of “gambling” so that the emphasis is more on the element of fun rather than the negative connotations that are usually attached to gambling in general.

Gambling in Malta was, is and always will be a social reality, yet very few can object to the fact that in the last few months, especially since the privitisation of the Lotto Department, the gambling industry in Malta has received a big boost. Today, not only have the opportunities to gamble increased tremendously but it is also being aggressively marketed in the local media. The Super 5 mania that grips the island from time to time is surely a fine example.

The state is netting around Lm10 million a year from this industry, (including revenue from online betting companies based here). However, to date little has been done in respect of the social responsibility the state has with regard to the addictive elements found in gambling.

The state simply cannot shrink from this responsibility any longer and just keep enjoying the money that is pouring into its coffers from licensing and regulating this industry.

Many countries that have liberalised gambling over the years have managed to incorporate the social responsibilities of the state and of the gambling industry as part and parcel of the package.

Experts in this field predicted that extending the opportunities to gamble will have adverse effects and therefore the prevalence of problem-gambling is much more likely to increase the social consequences.

Gamcare (UK), Know the Odds (Australia), and the Responsible Gaming Council (Canada) are just three examples of agencies that have been specifically set up to educate people on gambling issues.

Until recently, most sources viewed gambling as an adult activity, but today, studies are consistently showing that adolescent gambling is not only widespread but is also becoming the fastest growing addiction among young people. The prevalence of gambling-related problems among young people is well documented, apart from the fact that the majority of adults with gambling problems began gambling in their teens.

Maltese young people are no exception, and the warning signs are there for all to see. This was clearly portrayed in a study conducted by youth worker T. Mifsud Bonnici, Young People’s Concept of Gambling (2000). The need to start educating our younger generation on the perils of addictive gambling requires attention and urgency.

Gambling education is not a crusade against gambling or an anti-gambling movement. Its fundamental principle lies in the fact that since the final decision to gamble or not to gamble belongs solely to the individual, the person has the right to an informed decision.

The emphasis is on the “why and how” il-loghob jilghabek (gambling outplays you). Gambling education helps and supports young people to develop a sense of balance to the role that gambling has in our society.

It also enables them to gain an understanding of what responsible gambling is all about and empowers them to take decisions that keep them in control. Gambling requires clear decision-making skills and a marked degree of self-discipline, traits of character that are often absent in adults and are present in a greater degree among young people.

Accepting such a challenge is no easy task. Gambling education is a long-term commitment and therefore has to be perceived as a form of investment rather than a form of donation.

The setting up of a national agency on responsible gambling at this point is of utmost importance. This would guarantee continuity in terms of policies, projects, and research and would also help to avoid the fragmentation and overlapping of both human and financial resources.

Most importantly, such an agency would also give the state the opportunity to demonstrate in a concrete fashion its social responsibility, its willingness towards this cause by not only investing in it but by providing it with the necessary funds to operate in an efficient and professional way.

The longer we delay, the more gambling education is denied to our young generation and the more we risk having to deal with another addiction in the near future.

Tony Borg has a BA in Youth & Community Studies [email protected]