Unfortunately, our country is witnessing a growing number of people suffering from gambling addiction. This has become a serious social issue, affecting not only young people but also adults and even mature individuals. During the National Kurultai, the President stated: “Gambling addiction, even in times of peace, disrupts public order and destroys families. According to some reports, around 400,000 citizens are regular clients of betting shops and casinos—comparable to the population of an entire city. In reality, gambling addiction poses a threat to the well-being of the country. Families are falling apart, people are committing crimes. We hear tragic stories daily of those who, drowning in gambling debts, take their own lives. This addiction has a devastating impact on the younger generation. Online gambling is becoming a common pastime among children. Last year, the authorities blocked more than 4,000 websites suspected of operating as online casinos,” said the Head of State, calling upon society to unite in the fight against this affliction.
In this context, a seminar titled “Comprehensive Measures for the Prevention of Gambling Addiction Among the Youth of Kazakhstan” was held at Zhetysu University named after Ilyas Zhansugurov. The event was organized by the public foundation “Kazakhstan Ecological Fund.”
In her welcome speech, the head of the foundation, Aigul Abdualiyeva, emphasized that anti-gambling addiction awareness campaigns will be conducted across the country.
“Any addiction requires treatment. Above all, addiction robs a person of their freedom and causes serious harm to their health. Gamblers are individuals trapped by the lure of games of chance. Today, with the proliferation of casinos and slot machines, gambling addiction is becoming more pressing. Society is still unable to effectively confront this evil, as many gambling establishments operate legally. As a result, the number of people suffering from gambling addiction continues to rise. Our goal is to protect young people from harmful habits and to prevent the development of gambling addiction,” said Abdualiyeva.
During the seminar, Zhetysu University psychologist Gulnar Islamzhanova spoke about ongoing efforts to prevent gambling addiction among students.
“At Zhetysu University, we have implemented a comprehensive plan to prevent gambling addiction. We carry out various initiatives to educate students about the dangers of gambling. For instance, a well-known psychologist and theologian from the Zhetysu region, Kanat Maratuly, delivered a lecture to first-year students titled ‘Gambling Addiction — A Dangerous Dependency’, clearly explaining the consequences of compulsive gambling. As the university psychologist, I also hold regular meetings with student groups, identify potential risks, and invite professionals from psychology, medicine, and law to conduct advisory sessions on this issue,” she shared.
In addition, Gulbanu Zheksembekova, a psychologist from the Regional Mental Health Center, gave a presentation on treatment methods for gambling addiction and the psychological support available for those affected.
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