12% of Russians Struggle with Gambling Addiction, Lawmakers Report

Lawmakers report that nearly 13 million Russians are grappling with gambling addiction, with individuals placing 21% of their monthly income on online casinos and other bets. The estimates originated from the State Duma’s Committee on Budget and Taxes, indicating that around 12% of the adult population is affected by severe forms of this addiction. Particularly vulnerable are men aged 25 to 44, as highlighted by the Russian newspaper Izvestia. Sergey Perevozchikov, founder of Ludochat—a support network for recovering gamblers—shared his experience: "When I was gambling, for the first six months I thought I was the only idiot losing money. But then it became clear there were hundreds of thousands of people like me." Despite the seriousness of the issue, only 5% to 10% of those struggling with gambling addiction pursue professional assistance, according to the Center for Combating Gambling Addiction. Perevozchikov challenges this figure, suggesting the actual number seeking help is as low as 1% to 2%. This information comes amid ongoing debate among lawmakers regarding gambling regulation. Some are advocating for stricter controls, with calls from certain factions to criminalize online casino operations. However, the Ministry of Finance has stated that the government is failing in its battle against online gambling and has proposed legalizing and taxing operators at a 30% rate. Psychologists are raising alarms about the surge in youth gambling, attributing part of the problem to smartphone addiction. Dmitry Novostnoy, co-founder of a community for gambling addicts, said many individuals shy away from seeking help due to skepticism over professionals' effectiveness. "They often come for help not to solve the gambling problem itself," Novostnoy explained, "but rather to restore their reputations or settle debts." Economic data reveals that active male gamblers spend about 11,000 rubles (nearly $150) monthly. Starting September 1, new Ministry of Health protocols will see medical centers providing expanded free psychiatric services to those facing gambling problems. A spokesperson from the V.P. Serbsky National Medical Research Center of Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine remarked, "Treatment will help patients reduce their urge to gamble, develop new behavioral patterns, and overcome psychoemotional disorders." However, some individuals recovering from gambling addiction express dissatisfaction with treatment options. Viktor, one gambler, told Izvestia, "I have sessions with a psychologist. Unfortunately, she doesn’t specialize in addiction, although she does what she can to help." He noted that many public sector specialists appear exhausted and at times lack sensitivity. "One moment you think you’ve got your addiction under control and that you won’t gamble anymore, and the next moment, you come to your senses as though you’ve just come out of a trance," he reflected, revealing that he sometimes realizes his losses only after it's too late. Earlier this year, a police operation in Kirov led to the arrest of a teenager managing an illegal electronic gambling site near the city’s main train station and the confiscation of cash from a fintech company accused of processing payments for numerous offshore gambling platforms.