Garbagnatese municipalities sign gambling-harm prevention charter

Municipal administrations in the Garbagnatese area signed an ethical charter on gambling-related harm at the La Bolla theatre in Bollate on 21 October, according to the charter's promoter, ATS Città Metropolitana di Milano. The signatories were the area's administrations and the Azienda Speciale Consortile Comuni Insieme per lo Sviluppo Sociale, the lead body of the area, which covers the municipalities of Baranzate, Bollate, Cesate, Garbagnate Milanese, Paderno Dugnano, Novate Milanese, Senago and Solaro.

Under the charter, the local administrations commit to prevention, awareness-raising and regulation measures to protect the most vulnerable residents. The charter sets out a shared commitment by the area's municipalities to strengthen information and awareness of the risks linked to gambling, promote alternative social and community opportunities, support prevention and care pathways for people in fragile situations, train operators and administrators, and coordinate local action against the phenomenon in cooperation with ATS, ASST and third-sector organisations.

The first event under the initiative was a public awareness talk titled "FATE IL NOSTRO GIOCO – Le regole, i piccoli segreti e le grandi verità dietro al gioco d’azzardo". It was promoted by the hosting municipality of Bollate and the other municipalities of the area together with Cooperativa Lotta Contro L'Emarginazione and Cooperativa Intrecci, within the local operational plan on gambling disorder of ATS Città Metropolitana di Milano, and was led by the company Taxi1729.

Sandro Fumagalli, president of the Azienda Speciale Consortile Comuni Insieme per lo Sviluppo Sociale, said gambling was not a simple pastime but a dangerous drift that generates dependency, impoverishment and serious economic, social and family risk. He said the signatories committed through the charter to concrete action in their areas to counter the phenomenon and to promote a culture based on positive, free and creative play.