We hold Malta responsible
What is your role in Responsible Gaming Foundation involve?
Being a compact organisation, my role as General Manager (GM) sees me juggling multiple skittles, so to speak, whether it’s dealing with financial and HR matters or day-to-day duties that any typical GM is expected to carry out. My main focus remains on strategy to ensure that the original objectives of the Foundation are effectively met. I am blessed to have a small but exceptional team of individuals to whom I give the necessary latitude to achieve those goals. I also seek to keep in touch with industry players to ensure that the Foundation is constantly up to date with developments in what is still a very dynamic sector.
How much of a problem is gambling currently in Malta?
Statistically, Malta falls within the norm in relation to the prevalence of problem gambling compared to countries in the EU. However, I feel that we should not rely blindly on statistics only because problem gambling is not a quickly identified addiction compared to other addictions, especially those whose symptoms are not easily hidden. So, I would say that because of the stigma, shame and embarrassment, people who have lost money gambling may not be too keen to admit it openly. In the case of Malta, the RGF does its best to raise awareness about the problem of gambling. My approach is that as long as gambling is a legal enterprise in our country, we have a moral obligation to those who take part in this activity – however much or little – by providing them with the best possible support.
How do you evaluate 2022 from an RGF perspective?
For the RGF, 2022 was a year full of awareness raising events. After some years of relative stagnation partly due to the much-deserved pandemic, this summer saw the launch of our Awareness Campaign, which formed part of the project Take Action: Against Gambling Problems in ‘Malta financed by the EU.
The initiative, which cost €1.1m ($1m), also included elements of research and training. In line with the Foundation’s strategy, a commitment to form strategic alliances with local and foreign organizations, with the express intention of collaborating in various RG initiatives, was also a key objective. I am a strong proponent of teamwork, where the sharing of resources will benefit all stakeholders but mainly, and most importantly, the consumer. This year has also provided the Foundation with several opportunities to enact its message through a more comprehensive number of local stations and media to reach a diverse audience.
What advice would you give to companies in Malta to promote responsible gaming?
As a Foundation, we recognize that gambling is a legitimate and popular means of recreation. However, we are also very aware of the potential harm that this activity carries with it, so we recognize this dichotomy. We also know that regulation and compliance alone can never guarantee full protection to players. Most operators probably believe that theirs is an ethical operation simply because they comply with regulatory obligations, but ethics is much more than that. I often ask myself: “Is it unrealistic to expect the gambling industry to prioritize harm prevention over revenue maximization?” I firmly believe that having a robust ethical framework offers operators a range of benefits, such as reducing operational risk, attracting and retaining key talent and enhancing external reputation of the company, to name a few. In a sense, compliance makes you “acceptable”, but ethics makes you “respectable”, and for me, this leads to a profitable and sustainable business.
It is encouraging to see that, nowadays, operators have started a race to the top in terms of improved RG practices. It is not a matter of fear, but they realize that having an ethical framework and running ethical principles at all levels of their operation can be advantageous to their bottom line; so yes, a win-win situation.
What are the main priorities of the RGF for 2023?
I am looking forward to 2023 with a sense of anticipation because I feel that, as a Foundation, we will begin to reap the fruits of our networking efforts during the last months. We held formal and informal meetings with various organizations and individuals with whom we shared some innovative ideas and we would like to continue this push. It is encouraging to see the RG community growing and gaining traction. It is no longer solely the subject of academics, which is undoubtedly important in this sphere. However, it has also attracted several unconventional and innovative individuals, enterprising mavericks, who are developing and creating solutions to make gambling safe without making it less fun. Therefore, we will undoubtedly explore areas that resonate with RGF’s mission.
We will also aim to improve all areas of our operation to make them as efficient and effective as possible to achieve the goals for which the RGF was founded. We will also seek to convey the mantra that when all stakeholders align their expectations and behavior – and together cultivate an atmosphere of trust, responsibility and integrity – the result will be a scenario in which each party reaches the goal her The player received and enjoyed the service and the operator achieved an economic goal without exposing any party to unnecessary risk. In short, sustainability requires a collective effort.