€20,000 ICE Sustainable Gambling Zone donation elevates international recognition for Fundacion Convivir
Mercedes Aranguren President of Argentina-based Fundacion Convivir has described the €20,000 donation it received courtesy of the Sustainable Gambling Zone (SGZ) at ICE Barcelona ’26 as being a catalyst that has delivered international recognition for its work while enabling a range of prevention and treatment initiatives that would otherwise have been difficult to deliver.
The organisation, which adopts a multidisciplinary approach to addiction prevention, treatment, research and training in partnership with public and private bodies, was one of four safer gambling organisations to receive a €20,000 donation at the SGZ in January. The funding formed part of a €80,000 charitable initiative made possible by contributions from 11 leading gaming brands: Acordjoc, Betsson Group, BGaming, Cirsa, Flutter, Grupo Orenes, Merkur, Merkur Dosniha, Novomatic, Novomatic Spain and Zitro.
Mercedes Aranguren, said the impact extended far beyond the monetary value of the donation helping to elevate its profile on the international stage. “The donation brought international recognition to our daily work regarding the role of education in the development of children and adolescents, specifically in identifying protective factors and providing treatment when early symptoms appear,” she explained. “Undoubtedly, it gave us greater visibility while highlighting the importance of prevention efforts in response to a growing global concern. Being part of this initiative allows us to reach audiences with greater impact, while the funds enable us to sustain initiatives that would otherwise be much more difficult to implement.“
Aranguren argues the recognition also validates more than four decades of work undertaken by the organisation. She confirmed: “Our organisation has a 41-year history and we have been working on these issues for many years. The visibility, sustainability and expertise associated with our work positions us as a local reference point for other civil society organisations and treatment centres. It is also important in helping to shape public policy on addiction.”
The donation is supporting both prevention and treatment programmes delivered through Fundacion Convivir’s outpatient centre. Among the initiatives are expanded workshops for families and other significant adults in the lives of children and adolescents, designed to increase awareness of gambling-related harms while providing practical strategies for care and support.
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The organisation has also expanded its programme of quarterly webinars, some delivered in partnership with ALEA, which are open to community organisations across Argentina. In August it will host a scientific symposium at the University of La Plata focusing on mental health, gambling addiction and excessive screen time, while a partnership with the Argentine Advertising Council is helping to raise awareness of the risks associated with sports betting among children and young people through social media campaigns.
Reflecting on the role of the Sustainable Gambling Zone, which was first introduced to the ICE show floor in 2018, Aranguren welcomed the prominence given to player protection but argued that the industry’s approach must continue to evolve. “We consider it a good start, though it remains a limited perspective,” she said. “While caring for gamblers is important, we must also address the broader environment, communities, public policy and the scope of the products offered by major betting companies. Addressing demand alone is not sufficient.”
She also welcomed initiatives such as the ICE Research Institute as evidence of a growing willingness within the gambling industry to engage constructively with safer gambling organisations. “We support the establishment of cross-sector dialogue forums to reduce risks and protect the most vulnerable populations, particularly children and adolescents. It is a significant achievement that the gaming industry is open to dialogue. It also demonstrates that prevention efforts are attracting genuine interest and that there is an increasing willingness to invest in knowledge and work collaboratively to tackle these challenges.”
