In Spain, this date serves to warn about the consequences of problematic gambling.
Spain.- As every year, October 29th marks the National No Gambling Day, and the Spanish Federation of Rehabilitated Gamblers (FEJAR) takes this opportunity to raise awareness about gambling addiction.
FEJAR emphasizes that gambling addiction is a disease that does not discriminate by age and that its effects extend beyond the gambler, also affecting their immediate environment.
This time, the federation advocates for education in values, especially focusing on minors from an early age: "Prevention is the pillar that supports this demand made by the main Spanish entity fighting against substance-free addictions," they explain in a statement.
With a presence throughout Spain, FEJAR highlights the increase in the number of people who come to their centers seeking help, as well as the number of young people in educational centers who participate in their training programs. The organization maintains that prevention, education, and awareness are essential to combat the risks associated with gambling.
This October 29th, FEJAR makes an "urgent call to all of society," taking advantage of this date, to remember that fighting addictions is not only a responsibility of those living with gambling addiction and the problems associated with it.
"The focus of responsibility should also be placed, especially, on public institutions, which have the resources, tools, and duty to educate and inform society about the risks it faces," they explain and add: "The focus should be on prevention from primary school and on activating early age education policies on behavioral addictions, which is when contact with technologies and video games often begins, many times with little supervision and uncontrolled usage time."
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For FEJAR, this National No Gambling Day also serves to send a positive message. First, that the effort of prevention generates awareness, hence the importance of each person playing an active role in breaking the stigmas associated with gambling.
"To reduce the prevalence of people with gambling disorder, there can be no doubt that the best strategy is primary prevention, at early ages," they assured through a statement.
Secondly, they explained that promoting responsible use from an early age reduces significant social and health costs. "It is necessary to convey to society that gambling addiction is a disease, which can be treated and overcome with adequate support. Promoting prevention of the risks of gambling helps to build a healthy, intelligent, conscious, judicious, and sensible society," they maintain
Fejar convened the VI Scientific Conferences "Educating in values", which were held in the Aula Magna of the Faculty of Dentistry at the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM). The prevention of gambling disorders, especially among young people, was one of the main topics of the event.
During the meeting, which had the collaboration of the Chair on Responsible Gaming and its Communication from the Social Group ONCE and the UCM, tools on good gaming practices were offered to educators and teachers. According to the president of Fejar, Máximo Enrique Gutiérrez, "these conferences are called scientific because they have a high academic component, and prevention because we believe that preventing risk behaviors around gambling is fundamental, especially with the current wide range of gambling options available."
