The phenomenon of betting houses has been talked about more and more recently. The game (sports betting, a batit) seems increasingly popular, especially among the younger ones. A recent study published by the Institute for Drug Dependence at the University of Deusto provides significant data: One in three young people aged 12-22 has ever played the money, and about twenty are at risk of developing their gambling addiction.

There is also a growing number of voices against this type of business. In the Burgese district of Gamonal and in Madrid Moratalaz, various dynamics have been developed against these types of establishments.

There are also close experiences. The Gazte Asanblada de Judizmendi, in Vitoria-Gasteiz, has been working for a year on the betting house that has opened in the neighborhood and in Azpeitia have also carried out several mobilizations against this type of establishments.

More and more

In 2017 there were 3,130 gambling halls in the Spanish state. Of these, 700 have been opened in the last three years, according to the Association of Entrepreneurs of Gambling Rooms of Spain. In Aiaraldea, however, there are two betting houses: One is in Llodio and the other is in Amurrio.

There are many more establishments, however, which have snack machines and/or sports betting equipment. According to the information provided by the Ertzaintza, 138 bars and shops in the region have such machines: 65 de Llodio, 37 de Amurrio, 13 de Orduña, 4 de Ayala, 11 de Artziniega, 2 de Arrankudiaga-Zollo and 6 de Orozko.

The biggest risk, on the Internet

But experts believe the Internet is the biggest danger. “There is a cartel in all betting houses that says that access to minors is prohibited, but we know that they enter even if they are punished. However, mobiles are the most direct way to access anywhere. On many betting websites you are asked to be older than 18, but you just have to say that you are that age to access, there is no more control. From the legal point of view this has been regulated a lot, but there is no one in charge of carrying out the control".

This has been explained by Gotzon Minguez Ojembarrena and Mariola Miguel. Minguez and Miguel are the workers of the psychological care service of the municipalities of Amurrio and Llodio, respectively. Young people have been researching their relationship with the elements that can lead to addiction (drugs, video games, betting…).

Ever before

To do this, several questionnaires have been carried out in the educational centers of both localities. The two experts agree that the results show clear and distinct trends. “Young people are starting to consume technology earlier and have betting websites available to them.”

As you have pointed out, technology is becoming more and more widely used in young people's homes as well. “These are spaces where young people of different ages are mixed, which makes it easier for minors to access betting websites.”

Young men

The usual profile of the people who wager has been defined: “Men from 15 to 40 years old.” As you have explained, the most frequent wagers are the small ones: 1 to 2 euros. However, the two psychologists highlight that in the case of an adolescent this money can be a lot: “For an adult, two euros are very little, but for a young man to spend 2 euros on a wager would mean spending 20% of his pay of the week on the game. Imagine that percentage extrapolated to an adult.”

Prevention, more difficult

Miguel and Minguez, for their part, believe that prevention in the game is more difficult. “It’s easy for young people to play sports betting and it’s not as poorly seen as using drugs. It’s not so strange to see a minor with his parents on a sports betting machine, for example.”

Nor does the presence of advertising of betting houses help. As long as tobacco and alcohol advertising is banned, sponsorships and betting houses are becoming more and more numerous and obvious. “Rafa Nadal, for example, is considered a poker game advertiser. This gives the feeling that the game is a ‘no consequence’ activity.”

Miguel and Minguez have explained that the game has been considered a disease since 2013 and that the disease has since suffered. “Until then it was considered a problem, but not an addiction.” Psychologists believe that you can develop the same addiction to gambling as you can to drugs. “We’re talking about psychological dependence.”

As you have emphasised, tolerance also occurs in the game. “People start playing small amounts, in a very punctual moment. But you have to spend more and more time and money to feel at ease. It also creates withdrawal symptoms, when it's left. Many studies relate the dependence on play to family, learning, or relationship problems.”

Basically, both experts agree on the need for a thorough reflection on addictions. “We should think about the role that leisure plays in our lives.”

This report has been published by Aiaraldea and we have brought it to ARGIA thanks to the license CC-by-sa