The Register of Self-Denied Persons has been operating in Latvia for six months now. It is a tool that can help people who are aware of their gambling addiction and have ordered not to enter gambling halls. There are currently more than eight thousand people on the register.
The register of self-denied persons has been operating in Latvia since January 1. Its purpose is to deny access to both real and virtual gambling venues to persons who have themselves expressed such a wish.
During the first half of the year, 8,400 people have already used this opportunity. You can enter the register by going to the Gambling Supervision Inspectorate, writing an application in each gambling hall, or filling in the application electronically.
The minimum ban is one year, but a person can immediately indicate that they want a longer ban. If this is done, the application can only be asked to be canceled after one year.
“In this case, he is sent to our psychologist, who evaluates, conducts interviews and further determines his actions – whether the ban can be lifted or continued,” says Edvīns Priede, Deputy Head of the Lotteries and Gambling Supervision Inspection.
Matisse has managed to overcome his gambling addiction. He welcomes the work of the register, as it means that people are aware of their problem and in this way it is possible to provide great support in the fight against addiction.
At the same time, he believes that the state should devote as much resources to the eradication of gambling addiction as to the treatment of alcoholism and drug addiction. For example, paid rehabilitation programs should be provided: “These people, these addicts, have nothing to talk about. He is alone in this misfortune. And if he has come so far that he is ready to speak, it would only be good for the country if we did not get one sick person, but another whole citizen of our country. ”
According to him, 8000 is a significant number, because behind each addict there is a number of fellow human beings: “They are not just them, each has a family of at least four people – mother, father, child or wife. We can multiply that number by at least four and get close to 30,000 people who are not investing and can live a healthy life. ”
One of the ways in which addicts can still receive support is the crisis and counseling center “Skalbes”. Here, an average of 70 calls are received from gamblers every month. After the end of the emergency, the number of calls increased as the gaming halls opened again.
However, the Center considers that state aid has improved significantly over the last year. “It should be taken into account that quite a lot has been done by state institutions during the last year, directly speaking about the gambling supervision inspectorate. They now have access to psychologist consultations, they have access to groups for co-addicts, they have a register of self-denied persons, ”says Raivo Vilcāns, a representative of the Crisis and Counseling Center“ Skalbes ”.
A study commissioned by the Ministry of Health last year shows that almost 80,000 people aged 15 to 64 suffer from various types of gambling in Latvia. More than 16,000 addictions are at their most severe.
A study by the Ministry of Health also shows that the majority of Latvian society is critical of gambling.
82% believe that the state or local government should be able to restrict access to gambling. 77% also believe that there are too many gambling places in Latvia. 65% also believe that there are too many places to buy lottery tickets. 59% of respondents support a general ban on gambling; 28% do not agree with this position. The majority of the population would also like the state to restrict not only the availability of gambling, but also its advertising.
77% of respondents state that gambling should be allowed only in certain urban areas. Only 12% of respondents do not support this position.
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