strategija preprečevanja in zmanjševanja škode zaradi iger na srečo / strategy for preventing and reducing harm from gambling

Zavod Etnika je pripravil Strategijo preprečevanja in zmanjševanja škode, ki jo povzročajo igre na srečo, namenjeno lokalnim skupnostim z igralnicami ali igralnimi saloni. Strategija je bila zasnovana za mesto Maribor, hkrati pa kot prenosljiv model, uporaben tudi v drugih slovenskih mestih. Njeno izhodišče je bil javnozdravstveni pristop, ki postavlja v ospredje zaščito ljudi in skupnosti, ne pa iskanja fiskalnih virov za polnjenje občinskih ali državnih proračunov.

Projekt je izhajal iz spoznanja, da škodljive posledice iger na srečo ne prizadenejo le posameznika, temveč močno vplivajo tudi na njegove družinske člane, prijatelje, sodelavce in širšo družbo. Najizraziteje se kažejo v poslabšanju finančnega položaja družin, kar pogosto vodi v zaostrovanje medosebnih odnosov, čustvene stiske, težave na delovnem ali izobraževalnem področju ter v povečano socialno in zdravstveno breme skupnosti. Škoda se odraža tudi v negativnih vplivih na lokalno okolje in povečanju kriminala. Obseg teh posledic je neposredno povezan s količino denarja, porabljenega za problematično igranje ali zasvojenost, zato so bili ukrepi strategije – poleg ozaveščanja – usmerjeni predvsem v omejevanje porabe denarja za hazardiranje.

Drugi pomemben cilj strategije je bil povezan z demokratizacijo postopkov odločanja o odpiranju novih igralnic v lokalni skupnosti. Odprtje nove igralnice ima dokazano negativen vpliv na povečanje družbenih in zdravstvenih težav, zato je projekt zagovarjal, da bi morale o takšnih odločitvah odločati prebivalke in prebivalci na referendumu kot najvišji obliki demokratičnega izražanja volje.

Kot idealen izid kampanje je bil opredeljen sprejem strategije na seji Mestnega sveta Mestne občine Maribor in njena vključitev med občinske strateške dokumente. Nosilci projekta so se zavedali, da bo uresničevanje teh ciljev zahtevno, saj so ukrepi za zmanjševanje škode – podobno kot pri tobaku in alkoholu – usmerjeni v omejevanje porabe, kar je v neposrednem nasprotju z interesi lastnikov igralnic ter tudi z interesi proračunov, ki so delno odvisni od prihodkov iz tega naslova. Prav zato je projekt predvidel tudi odpor deležnikov, ki imajo koristi od obstoječega stanja.

Za dosego politične pozornosti in podpore mestnih svetnikov je projekt aktivno vključeval širšo javnost. S podpisno peticijo, naslovljeno na Mestni svet Mestne občine Maribor, so okrepili legitimnost pobude.

Kaj smo dosegli

• Pripravljena je bila celovita Strategija preprečevanja in zmanjševanja škode zaradi iger na srečo ter osnutek mestnega odloka, kar predstavlja prvi tovrstni vsebinski in pravni okvir na lokalni ravni v Sloveniji.
• Strategija in odlok sta bila uradno uvrščena na 22. sejo Mestnega sveta Mestne občine Maribor (27. 2. 2025), obravnavana in predmet razprave ter glasovanja.
• Zagotovljena je bila podpora 7 mestnih svetnikov, s čimer je bil presežen zastavljeni cilj (največ 5).
• Zbrana je bila javna podpora v obliki 333 podpisov, zbranih prek spletnih orodij in fizičnih podpisnih list.
• V proces odločanja so bili neposredno vključeni trije odbori mestnega sveta (za socialo in zdravstvo, za gospodarstvo ter za statutarno-pravne zadeve).
• Tema škode zaradi iger na srečo je bila obravnavana v nacionalnih in regionalnih medijih, vključno z dnevniki RTV Maribor in RTV Slovenija.
• Vzpostavljen je bil dialog z državnimi institucijami, vključno z Ministrstvom za finance, ki je podalo strokovno mnenje o zakonodajnih možnostih regulacije.
• Projekt je omogočil vključitev Zavoda Etnika v nacionalne strokovne strukture, saj je bil povabljen v Programski odbor za nekemične zasvojenosti (NIJZ) ter v slovenski odbor programa Pompidou.

Prispevek k indikatorjem programa Impact4Values

• Število izdanih publikacij: 1
• Število ozaveščevalnih kampanj: 1
• Število udeležencev aktivnosti: 3

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The Etnika Institute prepared a Strategy for the Prevention and Reduction of Harm Caused by Gambling, aimed at local communities with casinos or gambling halls. The strategy was developed for the city of Maribor, while also being designed as a transferable model applicable to other Slovenian cities. Its foundation was a public health approach that prioritises the protection of people and communities over the pursuit of fiscal revenues for municipal or state budgets.

The project was based on the recognition that the harmful effects of gambling do not affect only the individual gambler, but also have a significant impact on family members, friends, colleagues, and society as a whole. These effects are most evident in the deterioration of family finances, which often leads to strained relationships, emotional distress, difficulties at work or in education, and increased social and health burdens on communities. Harm is also reflected in negative impacts on the local environment and higher levels of crime. The extent of this damage is directly linked to the amount of money lost through problem gambling or addiction, which is why the strategy’s measures—alongside awareness-raising—focused primarily on limiting expenditure on gambling.

Another key objective of the strategy was the democratisation of decision-making processes related to the opening of new gambling venues within local communities. As the opening of a new casino demonstrably contributes to an increase in social and health problems, the project advocated that such decisions should be made by residents through a referendum, as the highest form of democratic expression of public will.

The ideal outcome of the campaign was defined as the adoption of the strategy at a session of the Maribor City Council and its inclusion among the city’s strategic documents. The project leaders were aware that achieving this goal would be challenging, as harm-reduction measures—similar to those used for tobacco and alcohol—are based on limiting consumption, which directly conflicts with the interests of casino owners as well as with municipal and state budgets that partly depend on gambling revenues. For this reason, the project anticipated resistance from stakeholders who benefit from the existing situation.

To secure political attention and the support of city councillors, the project actively engaged the wider public. A petition addressed to the Maribor City Council was used to strengthen the legitimacy of the initiative and demonstrate public support.

What we achieved

• A comprehensive Strategy for the Prevention and Reduction of Gambling-Related Harm and a draft municipal ordinance were prepared, representing the first substantive and legal framework of this kind at the local level in Slovenia.
• The strategy and ordinance were officially placed on the agenda of the 22nd session of the Maribor City Council (27 February 2025), discussed, and put to a vote.
• Support was secured from 7 city councillors, exceeding the original target of 5.
• Public support was gathered in the form of 333 signatures collected through online tools and physical petition forms.
• Three city council committees (for social affairs and health, for economic affairs, and for statutory and legal matters) were directly involved in the decision-making process.
• The issue of gambling-related harm was covered by national and regional media, including RTV Maribor and RTV Slovenia news programmes.
• Dialogue was established with national institutions, including the Ministry of Finance, which provided an expert opinion on legislative options for regulation.
• The project enabled the Etnika Institute to join national expert structures, as it was invited to participate in the Programme Board for Non-Chemical Addictions (NIJZ) and in the Slovenian committee of the Pompidou Group.

Contribution to Impact4Values programme indicators

• Number of publications issued: 1
• Number of awareness-raising campaigns: 1
• Number of participants in project activities: 3