Azajer director Miriam Gañán stressed before the conference began the need to address gambling addiction based on scientific evidence and to convey that “it is possible to overcome addiction.” The association has been working since 1989 and currently assists more than 300 people and their families, who are also a major focus of its intervention. “Many times, the family is more affected than the addict themselves because they do not understand anything, they feel guilty and do not understand what could have happened,” she explained.
The most common profile among those who come to the organization is a man between 22 and 48 years old who generally does not seek help on his own initiative. According to Gañán, 85% of calls come from relatives. “They come because of an ultimatum; very few people come of their own free will,” she noted. She added that these calls often come after loans or quick-credit schemes have been discovered. “The trigger is money,” she explained, although the consequences go much further, “from family problems to the risk of suicide.”
MORE THAN 5,000 PEOPLE SELF-EXCLUDED FROM GAMBLING IN ARAGON
From the Aragon Government, Director General of Interior and Emergencies Miguel Ángel Clavero said that more than 5,000 people are registered in the self-exclusion registry this year. However, he warned that the number of people affected could be even higher, since many of them are still unaware that they have gambling-related problems.
“What we have to do as public administrations is protect citizens who, for one reason or another, may be affected by this type of addiction,” Clavero stressed. To achieve this, he said, “we have to ensure that gambling is responsible and takes place within the controls and rules established by the Aragon Government.”
Azajer has also expressed concern about young people’s access to gambling, especially through machines installed in bars, where entry is not controlled in the same way as in betting venues. Gañán explained that the organization detects these situations during talks it gives in municipalities and comarca capitals, where leisure options may be more limited.
Throughout the morning, the conference will address issues including gambling among young people, athletes’ vulnerability, industry strategies, risk factors and gender. The event will conclude with the participation of the Aragon Government’s Director General of Public Health, Aitziber Lanza, and Azajer president Esther Aguado.
