Mendoza Schools Launch Census to Combat Online Gambling Among Youth

Growing concerns about online gambling among young people have prompted action in Mendoza, Argentina. Families and schools are increasingly worried about the potential harms, leading the Dirección General de Escuelas (DGE), the province’s education authority, to develop a comprehensive strategy to address the issue.

Province-Wide Survey to Assess the Problem

In a proactive move, the province is launching a census targeting secondary school students in both public and private institutions, as well as adult education centers. The survey, scheduled to begin in the first half of April, aims to gather crucial data. A preventative program will be announced by the end of the month, based on the census findings.

A Collaborative Approach

The primary goal of the census is to provide reliable data that will facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration between the Ministries of Education and Health, and the Instituto Provincial de Juegos y Casinos (Provincial Institute of Games and Casinos). This collaborative effort seeks to develop effective interventions and support systems for young people at risk.

Recently, the province launched the “Tu Mejor Jugada es Cuidarte” (Your Best Bet is to Take Care of Yourself) plan. This initiative focuses on raising awareness about the risks associated with gambling within educational institutions and online networks.

“We need to understand the scope of the problem to effectively protect our youth,” stated a representative from the DGE.

Addressing Access and Prevalence

Ida López, president of the Instituto de Juegos y Casinos, highlighted that WiFi access has been blocked in schools to prevent access to illegal gambling websites. However, data indicates that many minors engage in online gambling during weekends and holidays. Alarmingly, approximately 30% of young people between the ages of 12 and 18 have gambled at least once.

New Department and Preventative Measures

The Ministry of Education has also established the Dirección de Acompañamiento Escolar (School Support Department) to specifically address problematic gambling behaviors. This department will oversee the census and the preventative program set to launch in April. In addition to the gambling census, a Fluency Reading Census will evaluate over 320,000 students in Mendoza.

The province hopes that these measures will help curb the rise of online gambling among young people and provide them with the support they need to make healthy choices.