Gambling addiction is an impulse disorder, and cases of addicted people have increased recently, a phenomenon caused by both financial problems and circumstances, a habit similar to that which causes alcoholism, psychiatrists say.

According to experts, gambling can cause a pathological addiction, a disorder that affects people from all walks of life, especially those who are not in a good financial position and hope for a quick win without effort. When players are not driven by financial need to play, they do so out of habit that has developed over time.

“Pathological gambling is recorded in our pathology, in impulse disorders. It starts from the level of impoverishment of the population, from the illusion of real gain, quickly, without maximum effort, but at a certain point, as with alcoholism, you go to a bar with friends and slowly, slowly develop the habit of drinking. Likewise, in gambling, the urge to play, the desire to win, is constantly developing, although it is clear that more people lose than win. Sometimes they can earn amounts that they never had, but this addiction takes a form that eventually leads to therapy, to a psychiatrist. I had a patient, a bank employee… But these people are from all social strata, especially the middle and lower ones,” says psychiatrist Maria Kristake for Agerpres.

Although there are no official statistics on the number of people who visit gambling halls or who have developed an addiction, the number of people who have sought psychiatric or psychological help is increasing. In addition to counseling, doctors can also use drug treatment.

“The cases have become more frequent recently, we don’t have statistics, but it’s clear that people we know are decent, resorting to this method of obtaining sources of income, as well as the enjoyment of the game. Behind this rationale, enclosed in double quotes, is actually a psychiatric pathology. Their number is increasing, we observe day by day, but people hope for a nightly increase in the formula that exceeds the rational. It was a surprise for us that settled people fell, with the environment, good conditions. People reveal this pathology when they are engaged in this business. It repeats, the desire to play and win grows, but at some point I can no longer control the situation and fall into this passion. They need supportive therapy, psychotherapy and biological drugs for at least 3-6 months. Where people wake up from this illusion, where they have family support and the motivation to end it, they manage to escape. We have had good results, but there have been cases where people have returned to gambling after a certain period. It is a phenomenon with repetition, when people are unable to control their impulse, the reason to dominate and stop, from time to time they return to this activity,” said specialist Maria Kristake.

Last week, the government approved an emergency regulation to regulate gambling. According to the spokesman of the executive authority, Mihai Constantin, the regulation provides that “the right to organize and use gambling is granted only to companies registered in Romania or legal entities legally established in a member state of the European Union or in another country. signatory states of the Agreement on the European Economic Area or the Swiss Confederation, which have registered a permanent representation in Romania”.

At the same time, the Decree also provides for the creation of an accessible online register of companies and representative offices in which such activities are permitted.