Own needle: almost 13 million Russians suffer from gambling addiction
According to experts, up to 12% of Russian adults are susceptible to pathological gambling addiction. However, only a few seek help. Fear of condemnation, denial of the disease, and a lack of specialized specialists force people to fight ludomania alone, while it destroys families, careers, and leads to multimillion-dollar debts and serious mental and physical health problems. Why gamblers avoid doctors, what is the danger of this disorder and what support measures may appear as early as September — in the Izvestia article.
Why don't they ask for help
Today, ludomania is one of the most common mental disorders. According to Kaplan Panes, Deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Budget and Taxes, which he shared with Izvestia in January, up to 12% of the adult population of the country, which is about 13 million people, may suffer from severe forms of gambling addiction.
At the same time, only 5-10% of those who have signs of gambling addiction seek help, the Center for Combating Ludomania told Izvestia.
Sergey Perevozchikov, the author of Ludochat— a project to support recovering players, believes that this percentage is even lower.
— When I played myself, for the first six months I thought that I was the only idiot who was losing money. And then it became clear that there are hundreds of thousands of people like me, and not all of them are ready to seek help," he stressed. — In my opinion, much less people ask for help — 1-2% of all those who play.
According to Sergey, ludomaniacs do not go to specialists because they are afraid of condemnation.
"There are many other barriers that prevent a player from not just wanting to, but going straight for help," he added.
Dmitry Novostnoy, co-founder of the community for people with gambling addiction, believes that many people do not turn to specialists because they are trying to cope with the disease on their own, deny the existence of a problem, are afraid of publicity and doubt the competence of doctors and consultants.
"They come for help when a social catastrophe has already happened, and more often than not to solve the problem with the game itself, but to fix a lost reputation, distribute debts, and the like," he said.
Men aged 25 to 44 are particularly susceptible to gambling addiction, the Ludomania Control Center added. This is an economically active and able-bodied part of the population, experts say.
According to a study by Better, Portrait of a Russian Ludoman, the results of which were published in 2024, on average, gamblers spend 11 thousand rubles a month on gambling — about 21% of the budget.
There are also those among the players who went to psychiatrists, but they were not satisfied with the quality of services and their cost.
— I work with a psychologist. Unfortunately, she doesn't specialize in addictions and helps as much as she can," one of these players, Viktor, confessed to Izvestia. — And budget specialists are people who are tortured by life and need help themselves. Sometimes they are quite tactless — they accuse that a person himself has reached such a life.
According to him, he could not get an appointment with a psychiatrist on compulsory medical insurance, because the appointment opens only early in the morning once a day, and all seats are occupied in about four minutes. Victor has a high income, but he is constantly in debt and has to limit his expenses.
— Addiction has definitely ruined my life. The scariest thing is that it's an uncontrollable condition," he added. — One moment you think you're coping and you won't play anymore, and the next you come to your senses like after meeting a gypsy and only then you realize what you've done — minus 10 thousand.
Ludomania is a disease like alcoholism, Victor emphasized. Universal recognition of this fact would be the first step towards providing real help to people with this disease, he believes.
Another interlocutor of the editorial office, Fedor, also contacted a psychiatrist. However, the specialist did not help him quit playing. It turned out to be a more effective way... marriage. According to him, ludomaniacs have no goals in life, but now he works and tries to stay for the happiness of his loved ones.
The interlocutors also shared that they are not afraid to go to a psychiatrist, but they do not have the funds for treatment. In addition, according to Sergey Perevozchikov, the institute of specialized care for patients with ludomania is not sufficiently developed, since online gambling is a young phenomenon.
Another interlocutor of Izvestia, Rashid, is confident that ludomaniacs can be helped in rehab. He spent three months there himself.
"I had enough time to think and sort out my life," he told Izvestia.
After getting rid of addiction, Rashid not only paid off his debts, but also managed to save 1.5 million, bought a car and a garage.
"I don't regret my negative experience at all,— he added. — I've dealt with the addiction. It's a very expensive lesson, but it's different for me now.
What is the danger of ludomania?
Gambling addiction often develops gradually, so a person does not perceive his condition as a disease for a long time, says Evgeny Shcheglov, a clinical psychologist and specialist at Alter.
— In the early stages, a person is convinced that the situation can be controlled independently, — he explained. — Additional barriers are feelings of shame, fear of condemnation from loved ones and society, as well as unwillingness to admit financial problems. Many people perceive addiction not as a mental disorder, but as a weakness of character or lack of willpower, which increases stigma and delays seeking help.
He stressed that ludomania destroys almost all areas of human life. Serious financial difficulties, debts, job loss, and family discord are among the severe consequences.
"Addicts often develop anxiety and depressive disorders, sleep disorders, chronic stress, and an increased risk of alcohol and substance abuse," the expert said. — In severe cases, a person finds himself in social isolation, loses the trust of loved ones, and a feeling of hopelessness can be accompanied by suicidal thoughts.
Recently, the problem of ludomania has become particularly acute, says Dmitry Yagudin, Doctor of Psychology.
— Today, to place a bet, just press the button on your phone. This changes the mechanism of gambling addiction formation: there is no longer a pause between the impulse and the action, which could give a person time to come to his senses," the expert explained.
Since 2009, gambling establishments in Russia can only operate in certain areas, and online casinos are also prohibited. However, this rule does not apply, for example, to sweepstakes.
In 2025, a resident of Ulyanovsk, suffering from gambling addiction, killed his wife and two young daughters. He explained his action by saying that "he did not want the debts to pass on to the family" after his death. The man also stated that he was going to commit suicide. According to the investigation, he lost more than half a million rubles by betting on a sports sweepstake and in an online casino. Now he may face life imprisonment for triple murder, the investigative department of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Ulyanovsk region reported.
How to help people with addiction
Gelyana Shirikinova, a clinical psychologist at Medscan Medical Center, told Izvestia that it is not the players themselves who seek professional support, but their loved ones.
— Addicted people often form the illusion of reversibility — a persistent feeling that any situation, mistake or failure can be "replayed anew," she noted. — This prevents us from adequately assessing reality and taking responsibility for our actions, which ultimately leads to social maladaptation.
The sooner a person goes to a specialist, the higher the probability of successfully overcoming addiction, Evgeny Shcheglov noted. Effective care usually includes long-term psychotherapy, family support, and gradual restoration of control over finances and lifestyle.
— For loved ones, the most important thing is to give up accusations and moralizing, — says the psychologist. He warns that pressure, threats, and attempts to shame a person rarely lead to positive changes and only increase the denial of the problem. A calm conversation with an expression of concern and an offer to contact a specialist with experience in dealing with addictions will prove to be a more effective strategy.
According to the Ministry of Health, ludomaniacs are currently being diagnosed with "pathological gambling addiction," and they are being treated by psychiatrists. Starting from September 1, 2026, when the order "On approval of the procedure for providing assistance in the field of psychiatry-Narcology" comes into force, the scope of services will be expanded.
"As now, assistance will be provided free of charge with the patient's voluntary consent and inclusion in a comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation process, which will reduce gambling addiction, form new behavioral patterns and overcome psychoemotional disorders and other risks that initiate the resumption of gambling behavior," the NMC of Psychiatry and Narcology told Izvestia. V.P. of the Serbian Ministry of Health of Russia.
In addition, starting in September of this year, it will be possible to set a self-ban on gambling. The relevant application can be submitted through the MFC or the portal of public services. By installing a self-lock, a person will not even be able to visit gaming establishments, and companies will not have the right to send him advertisements.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
