The Good Game Tent

The Tent of Good Gaming
In Salerno, Caritas in the square against the illusions of gambling’gambling
 
 
 

On Saturday, May 30, from 8 p.m. to midnight, in Piazza XXV Aprile (Lungomare Trieste), Salerno will host “The Good Game Tent“.
The national initiative of Caritas Italiana, shared by the network of diocesan Caritas agencies involved in the project “He who quits wins“, sees the convinced adhesion of Caritas Diocesan of Salerno-Campagna-Acerno.
The idea, originally born from the experience of Caritas in Gaeta, will come to life on the Salerno waterfront thanks to diocesan workers, with the setting up of tents and gazebos open to the’entire community. Within these spaces it will be possible to experience the true meaning of play, understood as an authentic moment of fun, relationship and growth. Alongside recreational activities, information, listening and guidance points will be active.
The objective of the event is clear: to promote opportunities for meeting and raising awareness capable of spreading the culture of responsible gaming, drawing the attention of the citizenry to the dramatic risks associated with the practice of gambling, even in its most widespread forms now dangerously normalized by the social fabric.
These will not be simple static infopoints, but open, welcoming and recognizable spaces designed to invite people to stop, discuss and share reflections. A concrete sign to bring attention to the phenomenon of gambling directly in the places of everyday life, turning the spotlight on often silent fragilities that are consumed in the privacy of families.
“Gambling is not a game,” explain the organizers, “because it isolates the individual and feeds the illusion of easy gains. In contrast, our Tent wants to create relationship and closeness, restoring value to shared time, gratuitousness and the strength of community“.
More and more often, in fact, gambling is perceived as a failed way out of conditions of precariousness and economic difficulty.
Behind the apparent normality of scratch cards, online betting, slot machines and digital platforms lie stories of deep loneliness, pathological addiction (GAP), impoverishment and family suffering. The deception of convenient winnings fuels the hope of immediate redemption, but frequently ends up turning into a dramatic vicious circle of debt and loss of control, which also risks paving the way for serious usury and crime.
Caritas of Salerno invites all citizens, families and young people to participate in this evening to rediscover together the value of putting oneself on the line, without risking one’s life.