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The island nation of Malta may be home to one of the highest concentrations of online gambling firms, but the Bishops of Malta have voiced their concern over gambling and its impact on society.
In a message to MPs currently legislating amendments to the gaming laws, Archbishop Paul Cremona, Gozo Bishop Mario Grech and Vicar General Anneto Depasquale said gambling had "serious consequences" on individuals, families and society in general.
Nevertheless, Malta remains among the leading havens for online gambling enterprises.
Malta began licensing online gambling sites in 2000 under the Public Lotto Ordinance. Since then, the Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LGA) has developed its policies and procedures of remote gambling operations.
In April of 2004, the Remote Gambling Regulations were revamped and now offer four classes of remote gambling licenses.
Companies that are granted a Maltese license are not permitted to take bets from the island's citizens., but they are allowed to pollute the rest of the world - assuming you happen to go along with what the Bishops have to say.
The Bishops stressed that MPs should not only consider economic progress, but also the common good. "Legislation is democratic when it truly safeguards the freedom all society. Society is free when it is capable to limit the freedom of the powerful that can be detrimental to the weak," the Bishops said, while adding that in the case of gambling, "addiction weakened the freedom of its victims."
Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com
