Serbia's youth in the hands of the gambling industry

The development of gambling in Serbia has become a pressing social issue, particularly regarding its impact on the youth. The development of the gambling industry, for instance, the growth of registered gambling stores, and the extensive prevalence of online gambling exposed the young generation of Serbia to dire threats which affect not only their own and their families' lives but also the future of the nation at large.

Youth gambling prevalence

The data provided by the Institute of the Public Health of Serbia indicate that in Serbia, approximately 30% of adolescents aged 15-19 years had participated in Serbia gambling sites. It should be noted here that the children in Serbia are officially prohibited from gambling, and therefore the figure is even more alarming.

The European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs reported that about 11% of Serbian secondary school students had ever spent money on online gambling, which placed Serbia in the top five among thirty-five states participating in the respective study. The position and percentage rate in itself draw attention to the issue of online gambling and the need for regulation and state control over it.

Law and reality

The Serbian government has also recognized the need to address the issue of gambling amongst youth and therefore passed laws to restrict the problem, particularly through the Law on Games of Chance. The Law makes provision for the protection of children in sections such as the prohibition on gambling advertising to children and the requirement for gambling venues to verify the age of clients. Also, as stipulated by the Law, the minimum of two hundred meters should separate a gambling outlet from an educational institution.

However even with these measures, enforcement is challenging, evidence of which can be witnessed in the neighborhood of most Serbian schools. State and city government officials state that there is a significant number of gambling houses that are flouting the law on the minimum distance from schools.

As far as not allowing minors into gambling halls, citizens comment that, although the employees do confirm their age and deny them gambling on their property, the children stand outside in front of the door until they find someone who will do it on their behalf with their funds. The willingness of adults to engage the children in potentially addictive activities reveals the overall attitude toward gambling by the population in the region, and also the need for adult persons to be educated alongside minors.

Contributing factors for youth gambling

In addition to the overall public awareness and low level of enforcement of already enacted laws, which have already been described, there are a number of other causes of high gambling rates among Serbian youth. Among the primary causes is the accessibility and availability of gambling venues. As noted earlier, with more than 2,900 gambling stores scattered around the nation, these are usually found within walking distance of schools and homes, hence easy access for youth.

There has also been a serious upsurge in online gambling, both globally and in Serbia, which has compounded the problem. Online gambling sites are easily accessible using smartphones and computers with the ever-present 24/7 potential for young people and children to gamble. The ease and privacy of online gambling make it particularly appealing to young people, who are computer users and less sensitive to the implications involved.

The other causative factor is the pushy marketing by gambling companies. The companies use sporting sponsorships, celebrity endorsement, and social media marketing to target the young people. Glorifying advertisements for gambling create an illusion that gambling is a normal and even acceptable activity, further enticing the youth.

The psychological, social and economic consequences

The psychological and social impacts of gambling on the young in general are enormous. Even those working within the gambling industry admit that gambling is strongly related with different mental disorders of anxiety, depression, and increased stress levels.

• Socially, gambling produces isolation, poor academic performance, and tensions with family and friends.
• Gamblers who are young tend to be more likely to have poor academic performance and are at a greater risk of school dropout.
• Its economic consequences are no less remarkable.
• Teenagers who become gamblers add up to considerable amounts of debt, and financial chaos and, in a few cases, children and young adults turning to crime result.

In Serbia, there is a straightforward connection between gambling and illegal lenders of money, i.e. loan sharks, and children are not left out of that connection. Taking such loans has an impact on not only the individuals who borrow the loan, but on their families as a whole, and even more so in the case of children or very young adults, as they may be less than financially independent in any case. 

Prevention and intervention strategies

Society at large has a pivotal role to play in protecting a child from the risks of gambling and problems associated with it. Moreover, combat against the issue of youth gambling needs to be one that integrates prevention, education, and, later, intervention efforts.

The government, as the most essential central mobilizing factor in the fight against the phenomenon of gambling among children and young people, is obligated to make sure that the actually passed legislation is implemented in practice, too, which unfortunately is not the case. The government also needs to allocate enough financial resources to familiarize the public with the issue, make them aware of the risks of gambling, and also train medical and educational professionals working with vulnerable children. A tax on the gambling industry can be one of the possible sources of income.

Interventions to counter youth gambling would be best premised on intervening early to assist young people who are already establishing gambling issues. Counseling services, support groups, and rehabilitation programs focused on the needs of young gamblers should be availed, and NGOs can play a role in this.

Community involvement in solving the issue of youth gambling

Parents and guardians should be made aware of the warning signs of gambling addiction and should take proactive action to protect their children. These include monitoring closely the activities of their children, setting clear rules and boundaries on gambling, and being open to discussion on the dangers of gambling.

Through what we do, Humanium aims to empower children by educating them and help them plan a new future for themselves where gambling would never be a part of their lives. If you also want to contribute to our cause, do attempt to make a donation, volunteer or become a member.