In the context in which the draft decision on the prohibition of slot-machine gambling within the municipality of Constanța and the Mamaia Resort was published for transparency and public consultation, OMD Mamaia-Constanța, a public utility association whose mission is to manage and develop the tourist brand of the integrated destination, conveys a favorable point of view for the adoption of this measure, resulting from internal consultations with the management structures and representatives of the economic environment in the resort.
In recent years, both in the city and in the resort, discussions about the impact of gambling have become increasingly present, not only in the public space, but also in the community, among people who have seen firsthand how this phenomenon has changed lives, affected families and left traces that are difficult to repair.
"There are a lot of stories that have not been told publicly"
There are times when a community feels that certain things can no longer be postponed. And in the case of gambling, after more than 35 years in which its effects have silently accumulated, with personal destinies affected and addictions that have become increasingly difficult to ignore, it is natural for the local administration to intervene with clear measures.
For a tourist destination like Constanța and Mamaia, which builds its identity around family, relaxation, and a modern image, any step that contributes to a more balanced and healthier urban space matters.
"I think we have all seen, in one way or another, what this phenomenon has meant in recent years. There are many stories that have not been told publicly, but that exist around us: people who have lost a lot, affected families, addictions that have grown over time. At some point, a limit needed to be imposed. We hope that this project will be voted on and that, gradually, gambling will disappear from the area of the municipality of Constanța and the Mamaia resort. It is an important signal about the way we want this destination to look and about the responsibility we have towards the community." declared George Măndilă, president of OMD Mamaia-Constanța.
OMD Mamaia-Constanța believes that this initiative can represent an important step in a broader process of settling the city and the resort in a direction that emphasizes the quality of life, the image of the destination and a healthier built future.
