An Italian from Brescia, who has collected all the non-winning lottery tickets he has bought in his lifetime, has calculated how much money he has lost and wants to help raise awareness of the dangers of gambling addiction. luck.
“The other players need to know what happens to those who chase the dream of a victory that never comes”says Mario, who had the idea for his tickets to be used in a social flash mob organized by a number of entities in Brescia.
“Here, 362,000 euros given on scratchable seats for losers. And here are the tickets bought before 2002, 90 million pounds, or 45,000 euros. Pick them up and throw them around town! Let other players know how those who chase the dream of a win that never comes end up. To stop in time and ask for help“. Saying this, Mario handed over the tickets to theater director Pietro Arrigoni to be used in the social project. The lottery tickets were placed in nine boxes, and Mario – 70 years old – says that it represents his failure in life, but that he is now on the right path and is being treated for addiction, reports Corriere della Sera.
The lottery tickets were used by Arrigoni and a troupe of acrobats for an impactful flash mob as part of a project to raise awareness of the dangers of gambling addiction. Several such performances have been held, and the latest event took place on Saturday, when Mario’s lost lottery tickets were thrown into the streets. On the asphalt, the sums wasted on gambling were written in chalk: 2 billion euros every year in the Brescia area alone and 111 billion in all of Italy.
“Life is worth living, not scraping”, was the name this initiative received. Director Pietro Arrigoni was already bringing the untold and desperate stories of many gambling addicts to the streets. “Mario approached us asking if we needed scratch cards for our flash mob. At first he didn’t have the courage to tell me the truth. He said he found those thousands of coupons in his neighbor’s trash”, says Arrigoni, who promised Mario not to reveal his true identity. “I called him a little while ago, asking him if he wanted to tell his story for the Corriere. He might encourage other gambling addicts to seek help. He told me that he had to protect his children, his family.”
Mario was rich, had a good job and a nice house. “Even when I first met him he was well-dressed, with a distinguished manner, confirming that gambling addiction is classless”, said Debora Zucca, social worker at an organization involved in the project. “Many hardened players believe they can heal themselves. It’s a dangerous illusion. Unfortunately, very few decide to seek treatment: they come to us when family members discover their bank accounts are in the red.” said Gianni Lazzari, the president of the organization.
Publisher: DC
Tags: Italian man added nonwinning lottery tickets bought life calculated money lost
