social assistance for gambling dependency: Ukraine plans to endorse a social program to aid compulsive gamblers
Revamped Article:
Hear this, folks! The Ukrainian government is about to roll out a new system for helping individuals with gambling addiction. According to Olga Isaeva, the chief of the public union "Center for Responsible Gaming" (Responsible Gambling Center), this system has been under development by a team of experts for about a year and is expected to get the green light from the Ministry of Social Policy soon.
This new setup will involve creating a pricing system for services, establishing a circle of professional providers, and working out a system for training social workers. Once approved, dependent individuals will go through rehabilitation within a year, followed by post-program support.
The document outlines a general framework for providing services and standardizes numerous details. To put it simply, a person applies to a designated subdivision, gets tested, interviewed, and an individual work plan is drawn up. After that, a contract is signed, and services are provided with the individual's consent, ensuring confidentiality.
The plan includes various approaches to psychological correction, ranging from cognitive-behavioral therapy to gestalt and psychodrama. The goal is to assist the individual in improving their social skills for integration into society and to help them form future plans. Family support is also part of the package.
The standard follows five stages: diagnosis, motivation formation, psychological correction, social adaptation, and support. As Konstantin Aymedov, head of the medical department of RGC, puts it, "Help should be comprehensive." In addition to a psychologist and social worker, a person may require a lawyer and a financial consultant.
Now, let's take a peek at the global gambling scene. The new Ukrainian gambling regulator PlayCity, established in 2025, is focusing on updated consumer protection measures. Details about new standards for gambling addiction services are still scarce, but here's what we know so far:
- Operators must implement gambling addiction prevention initiatives, including player risk notifications and self-exclusion tools.
- PlayCity is restarting the national register of gambling addicts to enforce self-exclusion measures across licensed operators.
- The regulator conducts audits and imposes hefty fines (over €390k reported) on non-compliant operators, which likely includes addiction-related obligations.
In terms of professional providers, specific qualifications aren't clear yet, but state oversight via PlayCity and collaboration with licensed operators will set the standards. The Ministry of Digital Transformation's focus on transparency suggests partnerships with accredited healthcare or counseling services. However, exact criteria remain unspecified.
New rules in Ukraine limit gambling ads to nighttime slots and 21+ platforms, indirectly supporting addiction prevention. Increased tax revenue (projected €220 million/year) could expand access to public health programs, but direct allocations to addiction services are yet to be confirmed.
Current measures prioritize market control and player protection, with addiction services being seen as part of the broader compliance. Detailed protocols for rehabilitation providers may require further regulatory clarification. Stay tuned for more updates!
- The new system for individuals with gambling addiction in Ukraine, once approved, will standardize various details for service provision, including a pricing system and training for social workers.
- Dependant individuals will go through a year-long rehabilitation program, followed by post-program support, as outlined in the general framework for services in the new system.
- A person seeking help under this new system will apply, get tested, interviewed, and a personal work plan will be drawn up, all while ensuring confidentiality.
- The rehabilitation plan includes various therapies and treatments, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, gestalt, and psychodrama, with the goal of improving social skills, mental health, and personal finance management.
- Along with a psychologist and social worker, a person may require a lawyer and a financial consultant for comprehensive help.
- The global gambling regulator, PlayCity, is focusing on updated consumer protection measures, requiring operators to implement gambling addiction prevention initiatives, such as player risk notifications and self-exclusion tools, and enforcing self-exclusion measures across licensed operators.
