Gambling addiction in Ukraine is not widespread – the results of the first national study under the auspices of the Ministry of Health

In 2020, Ukraine legalized the gambling business, creating the foundation for the formation of a civilized gambling entertainment market. Today, business and the state are joining forces to make this area safer for players.

On June 22, GS “Center for Responsible Gaming” presented a report on the results of the first national study in Ukraine in the field of gambling addiction, which was supported by the main philanthropist – FAVBET. Representatives of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, CRAIL, the Institute of Psychiatry, as well as licensed organizers of gambling spoke at the event.

The full text of the report is available for reading and downloading. link. You can watch the recording of the press conference at YouTube page of “Ukrinform”.

Thanks to the openness and assistance of the leading companies in the industry – FAVBET, VULKAN CASINO and VBET – the experts were able to interview more than 9,000 Ukrainian players in online casinos and land-based gambling establishments.

Based on the study of the gambling behavior of people who gamble, portraits of a Ukrainian player were formed for the first time, criteria for pathological and problematic gambling behavior were established, and on their basis recommendations were developed for organizers, the state and the players themselves on the implementation of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of gambling addiction. The authors developed a validated self-diagnosis questionnaire to identify problems with gambling. and presented a clinical guideline for the treatment of gambling addiction, which will be presented by the Ministry of Health for implementation in Ukraine (there are currently no medical protocols or standards for the treatment of gambling addiction in Ukraine). The presented report will also become the basis for the implementation of other social projects aimed at protecting society from gambling addiction.

According to the National Health Service of Ukraine, even despite the high popularity of gambling, gambling addiction is not widespread — in the first half of 2023, only 27 people were diagnosed with it. However, the General Director of the State Institution “Institute of Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatric Examination and Drug Monitoring of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine” Serhiy Shum emphasized that the absence of a problem is not a reason for inaction: “Even if one patient were found, the Ministry of Health should still develop some kind of clinical institution. we presented today during the event.”

Member of CRAIl Christina Dutka informed that the Commission together has already begun work on the creation of a comprehensive state program for the prevention of gambling addiction based on the data and conclusions of the Report.

Communications Director FAVBET Ksenia Tyurikova emphasized that FAVBET plans to use the recommendations from the Report to develop artificial intelligence programs aimed at identifying problematic and pathological players, as well as join further social projects of the Center. At the same time, she called on all licensed organizers in Ukraine to join forces on this important social initiative.

“This study is of great importance for the well-being of Ukrainian players, and we are pleased that the leaders of the gambling industry and responsible government bodies have united around it. This is a clear signal for the entire industry and another step towards the formation of the gambling market according to the best world standards,” said FAVBET Communications Director.