In an effort to address growing concern about online gaming among children and adolescents, the Together for Entre Ríos block of senators met this Wednesday with the Institute for Financial Assistance to Social Action (IAFAS). The objective of the meeting was to analyze a bill promoted by Senator Juan Pablo Cosso (Villaguay – Más para Entre Ríos), which seeks to implement a preventive campaign on the risks associated with online betting.
The project, which was discussed in the Education, Science and Technology Commission of the Entre Ríos Senate, already has the favorable opinion and support necessary for its approval. In addition, some proposed modifications will be included in its wording.
During the meeting, the block of senators from Together for Entre Ríos committed to working in coordination with the IAFAS, the entity in charge of carrying out the prevention campaign. The General Council of Education (CGE), the Ministry of Human Development, the Ministry of Health and other public organizations will also be involved.
Among those attending the meeting were senators Ramiro Favre (Colón), Rubén Dal Molín (Federation), Hernán Méndez (Ibicuy Islands), Casiano Otaegui (Gualeguay), Gloria Cozzi (Concordia), Jaime Benedetti (Gualeguaychú) and José Gustavo Vergara (Diamond). Representing IAFAS, the organization’s president, Diego Martínez Domé, attended; the political director, Marcelo Monfort; the commercial advisor to the General Management, Santiago Schunk; the coordinator of Social Responsibility, Yris Carolina Molina; and the Legal coordinator, Fernando César Ballesteros.
Senator Casiano Otaegui highlighted the points discussed during the meeting: “They informed us about all the programs that have been developed for many years and how they are updated. We reviewed the bill and we agree that it is a good project, so tomorrow we will give it an opinion and we will support it in the chamber, approving this law, which is a tool for the IAFAS to continue with the prevention of the problem of online gambling ”. Furthermore, he stressed the importance of the issue: “Since the last two or three years, although the problem of gambling addictions has always been important, we see more and more cases in minors, through online pages that are often not legal. and do not restrict access to minors. This problem is visible in each of our Departments and it is time to support this tool so that controls are more effective.”
Senator Ramiro Favre added: “It is a job that we must carry out together with all the actors. Prevention and awareness are essential, not only for children but also for their families. This is essential for a healthy and quality education.”
For his part, the political director of IAFAS, Marcelo Monfort, said: “We met with the Juntos block of senators, the members of the IAFAS board of directors and a group of advisors, to exchange ideas about an activity that worries us a lot: the play, and especially play in children, a situation that in recent times has begun to greatly worry Entre Ríos families.”
Monfort concluded by stating: “We take advantage of this exchange situation with the senators, since there are some projects underway, and it is important that the joint and harmonized work between those of us who have the responsibility of carrying out this type of activities is translated into laws and regulations. Our objective is to organize the situation of responsible gaming in our province and ensure that the education, training and preparation of our children enables them to face these issues responsibly in their social life.”
