[ad_1]
Last week, Lithuania was disappointed by the news that a Vilnius resident had won more than 13 million in the lottery. euros. While the message has often elicited positive emotions, professionals are quick to point out the dangers of lotteries and gambling.
On Wednesday, the Seimas Addiction Prevention Commission met to discuss the situation of gambling addiction in Lithuania. The meeting was attended by specialists in addiction and gambling.
The minutes of the Addiction Prevention Commission meeting are available online:
According to experts, the gambling problem in Lithuania is extremely acute. Due to lack of prevention, a large proportion of people are addicted to gambling.
“The problem probably arose immediately after the passage of the law, practically from 2001 to 2002. Little by little, people and their loved ones contacted us because of the opportunity to gamble legally. The number of people for whom the game of entertainment has become a problem, some of which have developed a strong addiction, “said Oleg Mackevič, specialist of the Gaming Supervision Service, during the meeting.
Soon, when gambling became legal, a self-limiting system was created. People who believe they have a gambling problem can submit requests to be excluded from gambling venues to the Gaming Authority. The Service sends requests to the gaming venues, which undertake to identify and deny entry to such persons.
Since 2017, according to O. Mackevič, more than 18 thousand requests of this type have been received. On average, this would equal 13 applications per day. The desire not to be admitted to gambling venues was presented mainly by men, mostly between the ages of 18 and 40. age group.
“We understand that this age is basically to look for oneself, to create well-being for oneself, to educate, to form families, to work for oneself, for the benefit of the State. It’s sad that this age group usually has problems with gambling, ”says O. Mackevič.
Prevention is important
According to the experts present at the meeting, gambling prevention is of the utmost importance. Care must be taken to ensure that people do not play at a very young age. Currently, more attention is being paid to solving the problem that has already arisen.
“When treating and counseling people who already have gambling problems, we forget that prevention is a fallacy. It would be working with children who are only now interested in what the game is, perhaps they have not started to play yet. In advance, we must prevent this, ”says Laima Bulotaitė, professor of psychology at Vilnius University.
2007 Norbertas Skokauskas and Regina Satkevičiūtė carried out the investigation. It was revealed that most of the teens had already played Tele-lotto at least once in their lives. 53.9 percent reported having played in this lottery. adolescents, another 36.8 percent. indicated participation in other lotteries.
“If prevention was not carried out, nobody spoke to them, they are probably already in the game,” says L. Bulotaitė.
The teacher says there should be a lot more talk about prevention at this point. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, children are spending more time online. Online lessons, communication and entertainment have also moved into social spaces, making it easier to access online gambling.
“Now the game has moved to the Internet, in 2020. data, 58 percent. Play remotely. Thus, access to the game is much easier for children,” says L. Bulotaitė.
According to the teacher, people play because they want to feel happy, relax, entertain themselves, earn money, want to escape from reality and for other reasons. To prevent children from playing, these needs must be met in other ways, such as helping them relax differently, solving financial problems in a different way, and helping them feel happy without playing.
Players are at risk of suicide
Unlike other addictions, the game does not get drunk as quickly. It is a long-term developing disorder, so it can be difficult for a person to identify a developing disorder.
Therefore, as O. Mackevič points out, people who have been gambling for at least a few years often ask for help.
The Gaming Authority conducted a survey of applicants. It turned out that about 85 percent. believing they had problems with gambling they were at risk of suicide.
The priest Kęstutis Dvareckas also speaks of the high risk of suicide of the players.
“I have not buried as many addicted people as gamblers. We are going through a lot due to the availability of help. We ourselves found ourselves in a very painful situation when we could not accept the man here and now, and we received a request from the mother to accompany him on the last trip. Mom kept all her debts and so on.
Where we work, the consequences are also very painful for employees. You walk all week and think about where to inspire that hope to keep working. That is why we are in favor of prevention and as much as possible, ”says K. Dvareckas.
Assistance with gambling addiction can be obtained from the Minnesota Addiction Center, the I Am Rehabilitation Program community, gambling supervisory psychologists, anonymous gambling clubs, private psychologists and psychotherapists, and emotional support hotlines.
Last year, gambling companies received a total of $ 1 billion. and 418 million, and disbursed one billion. and 268 million. euros. Last year, gambling companies received a billion dollars. and 214 million euros, and one billion euros disbursed. and 51 million.
[ad_2]
