The State Duma deputy stated the need for a register of self-restrictions to combat ludomania

The problem of gambling addiction in Russia has reached the scale of a national disaster and requires immediate harsh measures on the part of the state. This was stated by Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Budget and Taxes Kaplan Panesh (LDPR faction) in an interview with Izvestia on January 15.

"The key tool in this fight will be the creation of a unified register of persons who voluntarily gave up gambling, which is being worked on as part of a special draft law. Up to 12% of the adult population of Russia may suffer from severe forms of ludomania, while there is no unified system of medical registration and assistance for such people in the country," Panesh said.

The problem is particularly acute among young people: according to some reports, up to 5-10% of Russians under the age of 30 may be affected by this addiction. The growth of ludomania is attributed to aggressive advertising and the easy availability of online betting.

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In response to this challenge, in addition to the registry, an all-Russian hotline should be created to support people with gambling addiction and their loved ones. At the same time, work is underway to change the clinical recommendations for doctors, and their special version for the treatment of gambling addiction is planned to be completed by the end of 2027.

"The legislative initiative to create a register of self-restrictions is the central element of the new policy. The mechanism, according to the bill, will start operating on September 1, 2026. A citizen will be able to voluntarily enter himself into a special state register by submitting an application through the Gosuslugi portal or the My Documents center," the parliamentarian said.

The minimum period of self-restriction will be one year without the possibility of early cancellation. All legal gambling organizers will be required to check each client against this registry, and accepting a bet from a person on the list will entail an administrative fine for the operator.

The effectiveness of these measures directly depends on success in the fight against the illegal segment of the industry, which continues to be actively advertised through bloggers and streamers. Bills are already being considered in the State Duma to tighten responsibility for the dissemination of information about illegal games. To completely whitewash the market, it is necessary to deprive shadow businesses of financial flows.

According to the MP, only an integrated approach combining strict regulation, public education, support for victims and financial pressure on the illegal market will be able to reverse the dangerous trend and protect citizens from the devastating consequences of gambling addiction.

On July 15, Anatoly Vereurgin, a psychologist at the Sberbank Health medical company, told Izvestia that the risk of developing ludomania is higher in people who are prone to impulsivity, as well as in those who are experiencing emotional turmoil or financial difficulties. In some cases, this disorder occurs in people who are looking for thrills, such as those suffering from boredom and loneliness. There is also a risk of ludomania in people with certain mental conditions, such as depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder.

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