Gaming addiction as a socio-psychological phenomenon

The development of modern technologies and the accessibility of gambling for the population lead to the emergence of new gambling addictions.

Recently, the problem of gambling addiction (ludomania) has become extremely important due to the widespread distribution of money-making slot machines, the opening of numerous casinos, as well as bookmaking offices (including online ones).

Gambling addiction has stages of development: the winning stage, the losing stage, the reckless stage, the despair stage.

Gambling addiction has a powerful psycho-biochemical basis, which means that self-recovery is practically impossible. As a rule, a gambler begins to realize the problem of addiction only at the fourth stage of the disease (the despair stage).

In the Republic of Belarus, the rights and obligations for players and organizers of gambling are legally defined. A mechanism for self-restriction of individuals from visiting gambling establishments has been introduced. Also, if an individual, as a result of participating in gambling, puts themselves and/or their family in a difficult financial situation, they may be restricted from visiting gambling establishments, virtual gambling establishments, and participating in gambling by court decision.

Psychotherapy is the main method in treating addictive conditions. Individuals suffering from pathological gambling addiction also have the opportunity to receive psychiatric and psychotherapeutic assistance, including anonymous assistance, in healthcare organizations of the region.

In all healthcare organizations of the Republic of Belarus providing psychiatric (narcological) care to the population, "helplines" operate, where round-the-clock consultative assistance is also provided to individuals suffering from pathological gambling addiction and their relatives.

Emergency psychological assistance for residents of the Vitebsk region is provided round-the-clock via the "Helpline" - 8 0212–61-60-60.