News

Every year, Italians spend some 80,000 million euros in gambling activities; 2,000 euros per capita, on average, according to official data. As a result of the crisis, the number of problem gamblers has increased even more. There are half a million problem gamblers who are offered free-of-charge treatment in public health clinics.

The number of housewives and minors who has turned to gambling is alarming. One out of four adolescents places a bet on a weekly basis and 11% are in danger of becoming problem gamblers.

Some 100,000 Italian adolescents cannot stop gambling in slot machines or placing bets, even online, according to ALEA (Association for the Study of Gaming) estimates.

These alarming data place Italy among the world’s top gambling nations with worst gambling problems. It is also the only country where expenses have risen 25% since the onset of the crisis, whereas in the rest of the world they have decreased 5%.

Half of this 500,000 problem gamblers are retired, unemployed or housewives; in general, people who turn to gaming looking for compensation to their emotional problems or for money to pay for bills and basic needs.

The situation is so serious that the Minister of Health, Mr. Renato Balduzzi, has offered problem gamblers free-of-charge treatment at public health clinics and associations of volunteers.

6,000 people are already under treatment in 197 clinics for addictions to alcohol, drugs, compulsive shopping and now gambling. 40% of these 6,000 are unemployed, retired, and housewives or have a precarious job; and they tell doctors that they spend from 100 to 1,000 euros per week. Sometimes even more.