At a time when betting shops and games of chance are becoming increasingly accessible to children and young people, long-term and well-designed prevention programs are becoming an essential part of the education system. With this objective in mind, during the 2024/2025 school year the program Who Actually Wins was successfully implemented. The program is intended for first-grade high school students. It is included in the Catalogue of Special and Extracurricular Programs of the Institute for the Development of Pre-University Education of Sarajevo Canton, and the program activities were delivered by trained external associates of the Institute, with continuous support and supervision from the Association for Addiction Prevention NARKO-NE.
The program’s objectives focus on increasing young people’s knowledge about the risks associated with games of chance, developing their socio-emotional skills, and encouraging responsible and informed behaviour when engaging in gambling activities.
During the 2024/2025 school year, the program was implemented in 20 high schools across Sarajevo Canton, covering a total of 136 first-grade classes. This represents a twofold increase in the number of participating schools compared to the previous school year, clearly demonstrating the growing interest and need for structured prevention programs in this field.
A total of 2,260 students participated in the activities, further confirming the importance of systematic and comprehensive program implementation in secondary schools. In addition to Sarajevo Canton, the Who Actually Wins program was successfully carried out in Tuzla Canton as well, where it included 216 first-grade students from nine schools.
The significant increase in the number of schools involved compared to the previous year is a clear indicator that the education system recognizes the importance of adequate preventive activities. Through continuous cooperation among schools, the Institute, and professionals, it is essential to work on developing long-term, sustainable prevention models that provide children and young people with knowledge, support, and resilience to everyday risks.
You can view the list of schools where the program was implemented here.
