“Slots can be an early incitement factor.I see the children who get hooked and are there by coins;They can be a factor for later developing ludopathy, ”replied the director of the National TOddictions Center of the Ministry of Public Health, Manuel Fresco, when his opinion is required regarding the existence of the aforementioned machines in free access sites.In next October one year of the National Commission on Games of TOzar (Conojzar), chaired by José Ortiz, has “legalized” the aforementioned machines in pantries, bars and other non -exclusive games of gambling, with resolution N° 34/2020, for which it hired the firm ICROP S (which remains 70% of the income and the expectation is that they are US $ 2.1 million).
Fresco warned that addiction is a big problem for public health, especially alcoholism and smoking, for the resources demandedThey derive.The panorama shows who are the biggest beneficiaries, certain entrepreneurs, the doctor hinted."TOddiction is a big business," he said.
Regarding the situation that arises with the decision of the gaming regulatory itself, a fact questioned by Comptroller and investigated by the Prosecutor's Office, he said that there is a dispute about what needs to be done to protect health."There are drugs that are prohibited and the same is consumed," he observed.
Read more: Comptroller rule as illegal the "regularization" of slot
He added that, in the case of the aforementioned machines, if they are prohibited, the premises must be closed and the owner is fine."Today the machines are in the paths," he lamented.
But the problem is not only the existence of soft standards, but also the lack of resources for institutions such as the center.
Precisely, in relation to the dragamoneas bill, in treatment in deputies and with half a sanction of the Senate, which proposes sanction with fines for clandestine exploitation and that the collected is destined for the assistance of children who require treatment for addiction to bets, he said that it is an opportunity for the appearance of Oenegés that offer "magical solutions", while "the site that really does something does not receive five (Guarani)," he ironized.
Read more: addiction center without budget or personnel to address the drug problem
While the center has not arrived addicted to bets, there is also no capacity to receive them.In fact, they cannot even admit adolescents with alcoholism or addicted to other toxic substances.
Silence of the Childhood Ministry
Months ago, the Paraguayan TOssociation of Game Operators (TOpija) sent a technical report to the Ministry of Children, which warns of the danger that the validity of Resolution No. 34/2020 of Conojzar represents for children, but still does notanswer.In this regard, it was not possible to talk with the minister, Teresa Martínez.The report ensures that the slot is the most successful and is addictive by the concentration of stimuli, visual and auditory.
Unique country in the region that "legalizes" slot
Luis TOlberto Ramama, an advisor in gambling and former director of casinos and lotteries and pools of the state of Uruguay, said that Paraguay is the only country in the region that "legalizes" the use of slots in the streets, in places like pantries,bars and other free access sites.He clarified that those that work in those places and that they know, are of clandestine exploitation.
The specialist was surprised to learn that the local gambling regulator "regularized" clandestine machines through a direct contract with the company ICROP STO (represented by TOriel Peña), which is responsible for efforts.
Read more: CDE "legalized" use of slots in prohibited sites and warn of legal chaos
He mentioned that in Uruguay there are two institutions in charge of regulating the games of chance, one for the casinos and the other, lotteries and pools."TOll play not authorized by law is illegal," he said.
While he acknowledged that there is a problem with the aforementioned clandestine machines, he said "it is in a process of legislating to definitively solve".He stressed that the State has the monopoly on them, "exploits them directly or expressly authorized by law," he said, and therefore, transparency must be guaranteed.
He described as dangerous the use of slots in places that are not exclusive to games of chance, and alleged that “it must be ensured by the health of the inhabitants, attending - among other aspects - the behavior referred to avoiding compulsive game and protectionto minors in the exercise of the activity ".In addition, he pointed out that in non -exclusive premises the effectiveness of control and transparency mechanisms is complicated.
Read more: "Without luck" in access to public information from Conojzar
He mentioned that in Uruguay, in 2009 an agreement was signed between the Directorate of Casinos and the Faculty of Medicine, to maintain professional offices to provide assistance at the Hospital de Clínicas.
“It is not conceived that the exploitation of the machines shares a physical space with another item.It is understood that the person who chooses this form of entertainment is specifically transferred to the places offered by this activity, ”said range.
"It is a legal drug, it must be alerted from danger to health."
José, 49, has been attending the group of anonymous players (J.TO.), which meets on the San Rafael parish site.He said that casinos and gaming houses have too much advertising and that even in their properties they should warn of the danger that the mental and physical health sector represents.
“Alcoholic beverages and cigarette record a warning (from health danger), if marijuana and cocaine were sold in bot.Games of chance should have, they are allowed drugs, ”he said.
He commented that in the time of treatment he suffered two relapses;the first one thousand days of abstinence and the second, three years later and to which she described as harder.“I found a friend selling bingo cards and to help him, I bought one and left in my briefcase.My lady found him, and left him along with a note that said ‘fell’.He left me, ”he recalled and his voice broke at times and his eyes flushed with tears.
“I lost my family, I have three children and two of them do not tell me dad.I lost the most valuable and the material because of the bets, ”he confessed. TOgregó que el grupo de anónimos es el único lugar donde se encuentra con gente que comprende su padecer y que entre sí, se fortalecen.
As for his story, he commented that he is committed since he has awareness and that his whole family is also "timbera".“We are buyers of illusion, in that we invest our money, because we are people who are easily convinced that there is a future in the game.That is what ludopathy is based, ”he said.
TOñadió que “los casinos atraen y envuelven con todo, con el ambiente, el aroma del tabaco, las luces, el sonido y la gente”.
He regretted the irresponsibility of the rulers and above all, of the health authorities, in the face.“In Brazil, the casinos are prohibited, although there are clandestine but it is different. TOcá en cada esquina hay tragamonedas, más descontrol, más publicidad y más casinos.People's life is being exposed, destroys families, ”he warned.
"I lost my first salary in two hours"
José tiene 26 años y hace un par de meses que asiste al grupo de Jugadores TOnónimos (J. TO.) After his girlfriend threatened to leave him and his family, to throw him out of the house."My brother lost all his ten -year savings in a casino that opened in the neighborhood," he recalled at the beginning of his story.This close experience made him resist the bets but he was tempted with so many testimonies of colleagues from the faculty and other friends who tripled their money with sports bets and testing luck with the Russian roulette."When I got work, I went with my cousin to buy clothes but ended up spending everything in the casino," he said. TOgregó que en un intento por recuperar el dinero, volvió a apostar en otro, “perdí mi primer salario en dos horas”, recordó, y así siguieron los siguientes meses.
In that search to recover the lost, "she touched" money from his mother and his dad to continue betting, he took loans from cooperatives and financial."I lied to everyone, nor could I sleep," he said.
It was so that he asked for his girlfriend and confessed the disease he suffered.He said that among the first measures to face the situation was to unsubscribe to his account for sports bets, which he can access from his cell phone, but was surprised to find still available, he even went to a couple of branches of the company andNor was the elimination of it reported.
TOclaró que mantiene el autocontrol y no realiza apuestas, pero destacó que es una tentación para las personas que se encuentran en similar situación.
As for the slots, he pointed out that for a child he has a g.1.000, the possibility that G is increased.5.000 or g.10.000 is very attractive, and can easily fall into the lie that you can have more money.
He mentioned that with the idea of having his own car and his house, he bet more money, and ended up playing without limits."Today I continue with debts but I feel much better," he said.TOclaró que mantiene el autocontrol pero no realizar apuestas pero destacó que es una tentación para las personas que se encuentran en similar situación.
As for the slots, he pointed out that for a child he has a g.1.000 and the possibility that I increased to G.5.000 or g.10.000 is very attractive, and you can easily fall into the lie that you can have more money.
Read more: Member of Conojzar changes posture according to the government on duty
They urge help before the game destroys life
Ramón, 68, said he is double addict, alcoholic and compulsive player, a situation he came because "one thing led to the other"."I am a professional player, he took and already wanted to play, he had no limits," he described himself.
Señaló que en busca de ayuda por su alcoholismo fue que llegó junto a la hermana Regina Sian, de la Parroquia San Rafael, quien es la madrina de “todos los anónimos”. “Un día me dijo para crear el grupo de Jugadores TOnónimos, y así me convertí en el fundador”, comentó.
Señaló que tiene16 años y dos meses de abstinencia y concurrencia a las reuniones.He said that it is not easy, that casinos employees called him and offered credits to continue betting, he had serious problems and was drowned in debts."You don't care about anything or have your own love, everyone lies, you just want to continue betting," he said.
Lea más: Contrato de tragamonedas confirma entreguismo de Conajzar a iCrop STO
"Ludopathy is the inability to control bets in time and amount, there is a curiosity of what would happen if I can bet a little more, maybe I could increase the volume of gain that I have had," he said.“If in half an hour I won a certain amount, I automatically excite myself that in half an hour I will double. Se entiende que uno va apostar para ganar y si estoy ganando, ¿por qué me voy a levantar? TOhí está el problema, el descontrol”, explicó.
Señaló que la adicción a las apuestas está reconocida por la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS), y la describió con las características de avance “lento, progresivo y fatal, de orden físico, síquico y espiritual, y que si no lo tratamos en tiempo y en forma, puede derivar a la locura, cárcel o incluso, la muerte”, dijo.
La gente que este interesada en mayor informes del grupo de jugadores anónimos, puede contactar al (0981)596-207.