President Zelenskyy Restricts Online Gambling to Combat Military Betting Addiction
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy brought about restrictions on online casinos in his country in a bid to tackle problem gambling amongst military personnel.
Twenty-four-year-old Ukrainian army serviceman, Pavlo Petrychenko, who lost his life in action last week, had previously drawn attention to questionable gambling habits amongst soldiers deployed against Russia. Before his passing, he urged Zelenskyy to limit military members' access to internet casinos.
In his letter dated March 29th to the Ukrainian president, Petrychenko explained that military personnel, who have been separated from their families for the third year in harsh conditions with no proper rest, are more susceptible to psychological issues. He believed gambling habits became an escape from stress, leading to a dopamine addiction and deterioration of self-control.
Though Petrychenko didn't name specific operators, he claimed that some gaming companies were exploiting Ukrainian service members by offering them microloans, which could lead to financial strains for soldiers and their families. He also alleged that some Russian firms were targeting Ukrainian civilians and military members to gather sensitive data.
Soldiers Selling Tactical Gear to Finance Betting Habits
The gambling issue among Ukrainian soldiers became even more pressing in light of Petrychenko's claim that some troops were selling equipment such as drones and thermal imaging gear to get money for their betting activities.
Given the late commander's claim that some soldiers were pawning off their tactical equipment to support their gambling habits, the possibility of US military assistance going towards support of gambling and not the war against Russia could have significant international implications. The US House of Representatives recently authorised an additional $61 billion in aid for Ukraine, while the US had previously provided $74.3 billion, including $46.3 billion in military aid.
However, public support for funding Ukraine's military seems to be waning. US inflation and interest rates remain high, whereas the nation's historic averages are significantly lower. Furthermore, there are growing concerns about Ukraine's accounting of US military assistance, as well as rumours suggesting that equipment provided by NATO allies was sold on the black market instead of being used against Russia.
Zelenskyy Seeks Assistance from Big Tech Companies
In an attempt to limit soldiers' access to betting applications, Zelenskyy has reached out to Apple and Alphabet - the employers behind the two most popular app stores. The Ukrainian cabinet has reportedly requested that these American technology titans remove unregulated betting apps from their app stores.
In his correspondence with Zelenskyy, Petrychenko also suggested that the Verkhovna Rada - the equivalent of the Ukrainian congress - enforce measures barring internet service providers from permitting access to unregulated internet casinos, banning pawnshops from handling military equipment, and prohibiting gambling-related advertising aimed at Ukrainian soldiers.
"Huge debts of soldiers with gaming addictions can also be used as a tool for blackmail by the secret services of the aggressor country," wrote Petrychenko, referencing Article 93 of Ukraine's constitution, which grants the president the power of legislative initiative. The bills, which he considered necessary, would be prioritised by the Ukrainian parliament.
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Source: www.casino.org
