ROMA (ITALPRESS) – Building a shared culture of prevention, through clear messages and concrete tools capable of reaching not only those who play, but also families and the population as a whole. These themes at the center of the second edition of the “FAIR Forum 2026”, the appointment promoted in Rome by the FAIR Foundation and dedicated to the role of communication in the dissemination of the culture of the responsible game. The initiative, hosted at Palazzo Montemartini, brought together representatives of the institutions, industry authorities, enterprises and experts to discuss the strategies to be adopted to promote conscious behavior, prevent risk related to gambling and strengthen the protection of the most vulnerable people, as Mario Lollobrigida, Director of the Games Directorate of the Agency of Customs and Monopoli, who reaffirmed the need for “prevention to become a shared concept”.
The Forum, entitled “Communication as an education for a responsible game”, opened with the interventions of Matteo Caroli and Giovanni Emilio Maggi, representing the FAIR Foundation, and Mario Lollobrigida for ADM. During the meeting the Observatory on the Responsible Game was presented, created by the FAIR Foundation in collaboration with Ipsos Doxa. Research shows that the prevention of addiction, child protection and the contrast to illegal play are the main challenges of the industry for over 8 Italians out of 10. Moreover, 59% of the population believes inadequate measures currently taken to prevent and counter gambling disorders. The survey was illustrated by Ilaria Ugenti, Reputation Leader of Ipsos Doxa, and Nando Pagnoncelli, president of the research institute. The study involved a sample of 1,000 people between 18 and 70 years through online interviews, alongside 30 interviews with opinion leaders from the associative world, communication, authorities, public administration and other areas of society. One of the most relevant aspects is the knowledge of the responsible game concept. Only 41% of respondents say they know exactly what it is, while 44% say they know it only at large lines and 15% admit they don’t know it at all. Also the knowledge of Legislative Decree 41 of 2024, which has reordered the field of online games by introducing measures for the protection of players, is limited: 56% of respondents declare to know little or nothing. The results of the research were at the centre of the institutional comparison, with Davide Gallino, representing AGCOM, Antonio Giuliani for ADM, Vincenzo Guggino for the Institute of advertising self-discipline (IAP), Mr Lorenzo Malagola, of Fratelli d’Italia, and Professor Cinzia Castiglioni for the FAIR Foundation. The debate dealt with the role of authorities, institutions and industry bodies in promoting correct, transparent and attentive communication to consumer protection and promoting responsible behaviour. To follow, the panel dedicated to the companies involved Victor Corcoran, representing My Lotteries-Brightstar, Valèrie Peano for LOGiCO and Fabio Venturozzo for Flutter, bringing to the debate the point of view of the operators of the sector. On the prevention front, more than a third of the sample considers particularly important the limits of expenditure and time for each play. Examples include self-exclusion, play breaks, behavior monitoring and early identification of potentially problematic situations. The respondents also recognise the usefulness of psychological support for people at risk and their families. The research also highlights some concerns related to digital gaming, associated by a part of the population to a magaccessibility, approaching the game at a younger age and at a higher risk of developing an addiction. At the same time, the perception of increasing attention from industry to the contrast of illegality and the promotion of responsible practices emerges.
Stefano De Vita, Director General of the FAIR Foundation, reiterated the centrality of information in the promotion of the responsible game. “This day confirms the centrality of communication in the responsible game”, he stressed. “Prevent means first of all knowing people’s behaviors and transforming information into real awareness, giving those who play concrete tools and consistent messages with what companies really do,” he added, recalling the importance of building a culture of prevention capable of involving families, schools and digital contexts. De Vita also highlighted the need to keep dialogue open even with those who express different positions on the subject, stressing the importance of prioritizing the protection of people to economic interests when the two dimensions conflict. An approach that, according to the Foundation, requires collaboration between institutions, industry, the world of research and the media, so that communication does not limit itself to raising awareness, but also contributes to making the protection tools accessible. The moderation of the meeting was entrusted to the journalist, author and television conductor Giada Giorgi. The Forum is part of this path, with the aim of encouraging comparison between the different actors in the sector and contributing to the development of data-based protection tools and evidence.
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(ITALPRESS).
