Gambling can be a fun experience and an enjoyable way to spend leisure time. However, it is important to note that a certain percentage of people who engage in gambling can develop an addiction to it. This can lead to serious problems and reduce the quality of life of the people affected.
The Association of Organizers of Gambling Games and Activities in Bulgaria (AOGGAB) and its members have a great responsibility to invest time, effort and money in responsible gambling as well as in good practices for early prevention and treatment of addiction problems.
Apart from the National Programme for the Implementation of Youth Activities, the budget of which is formed by the mandatory annual contributions of the operators of gambling services for socially responsible behavior, the Association supports both organizations that combat addiction, including gambling addiction, and non-governmental organizations in the field of children’s health.
Gambling operators assist greatly in the prevention of gambling addiction, and organizations such as AOGGAB do their best to support people who suffer from problem gambling by referring them to relevant professionals and programmes in the field.
AOGGAB works in partnership with the non-governmental organization ARZ Solidarity (Solidarity Association) – http://www.solidarnost-bg.org which is extremely effective in combating various types of addiction.
Who are “ARZ Solidarity”?
The non-governmental organization was established in 2006. The main activity of ARZ Solidarity is rehabilitation and re-socialization of addicts, which is carried out by the Solidarity program in two forms: a day program for people with drug and alcohol addiction and an evening program for people with gambling addiction. The programme involves psychologists with extensive experience in addiction recovery.
Part of the program of ARZ Solidarity Association is the information and counselling centre “Ambassadors of Hope”, which includes the National Information Line on Drugs, Alcohol and Gambling (NILNAH) – https://www.drugsinfo-bg.org .
Solidarity Association is a member of the European Federation of Therapeutic Communities (EFTC), the European Network for the Training of Professionals European companionship in education, training by travel (Ecett) and the National Patients Organisation (NPO).
AOGGAB supports regulation of gambling advertising
In addition to the prevention of addicts, AOGGAB and its members support the drive to regulate gambling advertising – to keep it within the legal boundaries established by the ethical rules for commercial advertising.
The members of the Association actively participate in the meetings of the National Council for Self-Regulation – https://www.nss-bg.org , so that advertising is not only legal, but also prepared with a sense of responsibility towards society and especially towards its most vulnerable group – children.
As part of the social responsibility policy of AOGGAB, the organisation partners with the Bulgarian Society of Paediatric Ophthalmology, Neuroophthalmology and Ophthalmogenetics (BGDDONO) – https://www.facebook.com/BGDDONO .
The aim of BGDDONO is to promote the activity of pediatric ophthalmology, neuroophthalmology and ophthalmogenetics in Bulgaria; to introduce the Bulgarian ophthalmology community to the world trends and achievements in the three subspecialties; to strengthen and create new contacts between the different specialties, both in Bulgaria and abroad; to facilitate the access of doctors and patients to the specialists in the respective subspecialties.