Some Ukrainian soldiers are struggling with a personal foe: gambling addiction

Russia’s war against Ukraine has brought to the surface a societal problem that predates the conflict. Soldiers already are at significant risk for gambling addiction, due to the stress of service and the sizeable amount of their salaries.

But in the course of the war, that risk has worsened for many of those in the service in Ukraine, particularly as bored soldiers find their way to online casinos during their downtime.

“Online gambling among soldiers is a huge problem. It’s a way to escape reality,” says Oleksandr Antiufeiev, a psychologist. “Every soldier who has served for a long time faces problems on the family front. When they receive a salary, they spend the next few days spending that money and losing it.”

Many military servicemen reject the idea of restricting soldiers’ access to gambling, suggesting that disciplinary actions should instead be targeted towards the casino industry.

“People who spend money on online casinos earned that money,” says serviceman Vladyslav, noting that it would be complicated and unethical to control the phones of thousands of soldiers who gamble online. “I don’t think it is right to impose restrictions on military people over this.”

Oksana, a Ukrainian refugee, knows she cannot depend on her husband, Oleksandr, to provide for her and her two children. That’s because Oleksandr is in the grips of a fierce gambling addiction – a problem that has become more acute and disruptive as he serves on the front lines of eastern Ukraine.

“He was fired from one brigade because of gambling and drinking problems,” says Oksana, who is working in a pharmacy in Poland. She asked that their last names not be used for privacy. “He would leave unannounced and go to gambling rooms in Dnipro. When he couldn’t get leave, he would play online casinos on his phone.”

Russia’s war against Ukraine has brought to the surface a societal problem that predates the conflict. Soldiers already are at significant risk for gambling addiction, due to the stress of service and the sizeable amount of their salaries. But in the course of the war, that risk has worsened for many of those in the service in Ukraine, particularly as bored soldiers find their way to online casinos during their downtime.

While in extreme cases it has led some soldiers to commit suicide, more frequently it results in tensions that create distrust and damage bonds, particularly among soldiers’ families.

“The army reflects society and its problems,” says Otto, a drone unit commander who sports aviators and a silver beard. “Alcohol, drugs, gambling – it all depends on the commander and whether he is willing to ignore these things. For me it is very important to have none. One person’s weakness can lead to the elimination of a whole unit.”

A new industry

Ukraine legalized gambling in 2020, after a 10-year ban. The new law allowed casinos and slot machines in hotels, as well as online gambling and bookmaking. A new body, the Commission for Regulation on Gambling and Lotteries, oversees the sector.

The commission also maintains a registry of those restricted from access to gambling establishments or participating in gambling. People can be put on the list via a court order, at their own request, or the request of a concerned member of their immediate family. All legal gambling in Ukraine, including online casinos, requires identification (including a tax ID) and a bank account, and only accepts payments in hryvnia, the national currency. Such venues also must screen visitors according to the registry, which currently has more than 7,000 people on it.