Soldiers using gambling to cope with stress.

[Text]

The line can blur under stress, it's hard to know when a harmless distraction turns harmful so I think soldiers should be restricted from engaging in gambling just to reduce their stress because there are alternative forms of stress relief and recreational activities for them like exercise, group activities, or mental health resources. These can be more sustainable and less risky than gambling.

[retreat]

Maybe this problem is more serious than just calling it "boredom", because we know that what these soldiers are facing, they are far from home and fighting a battle that doesn't know when it will end - perhaps some of them are facing trauma from the war, homesickness, and other serious problems due to the war. And gambling may be a means for them to divert their attention from these problems.
The entertainment provided by online gambling keeps them from focusing on these problems and allows them to relax for a moment. But the problem is that if there is too much it will make them addicted to gambling and create other problems - and it will interfere with their duties and their concentration which will not only endanger themselves, but also their colleagues. It may be the role of health services and governments to provide gambling education and addiction therapy and entertainment other than gambling, to help these soldiers in their duties.

[stompix]

The decree is already in place, and there are new restrictions also, including civil population:

the President instructed the government to:

-determine restrictions on advertising of all forms of gambling, in particular using the symbols of the Armed Forces and other military formations;
-prohibit the registration of several accounts by the online casino organizer for one player, as well as determine the maximum time of continuous play on the Internet per day for one account,
-introduce mandatory breaks in the game and determine the maximum time of play per week;
-before the start of the game, set the limit of the playerʼs expenses for the game during a certain time (day, week, month) with the possibility of changing such a limit no more than once a month;
-implement the State system of online monitoring;
-conduct an awareness campaign about the dangers of gambling, threats of gambling addiction, methods of prevention and treatment of gambling addiction.

Please don't tell me that because of gambling, a large number of soldiers fall into debt and can't focus on their jobs. People assuming are just delusional. Maybe they need to investigate thoroughly before making such a conclusion.

And you have an investigation report next to you that says soldiers who lost all their money and their house on gambling are doing wonders on the battlefield, right?  

I wonder why nobody is touching one of the core problems, you have a guy on the battlefront using his smartphone to gamble, forget the money, just the thing that he is using his smartphone and the internet is bad, count the distractions and the stress and fatigue due to continuous gambling, do you see such a guy ready for action in 1 second?
It's one thing to allow them to gamble while off-duty and away from the frontline but while active it's a different story.

[iv4n]

Drugs and alcohol. They both work wonders. When you are high on morphine or vodka, you won’t feel a damn when a limb of you gets blown off.

It is probably one of the best ways to die in a war. As long as you don’t feel it, it shouldn’t matter, right?

I don't think it's just about not feeling anything while dying... it's more about getting through the day. The horrors and stresses are great, and unbearable for many. Many things in war go against common sense, and that's why people try to make it easier for themselves...

We can say whatever we want here, but as PokerPlayer wrote:

It is a complex problem.

It's a really complex problem. I don't think it's a matter of banning something or not, some people need some relief and support to deal with all the horrors around them. Maybe the presidents and ministers (watching the war from their armchairs and at a safe distance) should think more about how to stop it all or at least provide some support to those fighting for them rather than just forbidding them to do something.

[alastantiger]

It is a complex problem.

Gambling offers a form of escapism for these soldiers. There are not only fight a physical enemy, they are also fighting their own internal enemy. Gambling therefore offers that distraction. Banning gambling is therefore like scratching the issue at the surface level why the underlying mental health, financial issues and other health related issues are abandoned. In all soldiers need help to find a way to support and cope. A healthy coping system is what they need.

[Asiska02]

Now, do you think soldiers who have left home for a long time and are going through boredom should be restricted from engaging in gambling which helps reduce their stress? If gambling does not have any effect on their performance on the waterfront and they gamble responsibly, do you think there should be restrictions?

There are other ways a soldier deal with their stress rather than gambling to take away some thoughts in their mind. It does not have to be gambling. On a normal circumstance, there should be nothing wrong in them doing that but according to the news, they’re getting more engaged with gambling and are stuck up in a lot of debts which is not a good thing for a patriotic soldier man that is serving his nation. The president only put those restrictions to them for their own good and nothing else. I am in support of the president because gambling is to be controlled even though you are of the age of gambling and can decide for yourself. Going into huge debts by soldiers is not a good thing, so it needs to be more regulated for them.

[Taskford]

His observation was supported by many Ukrainians who signed the petition and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy saw the need to control the gambling behavior of soldiers. Ukrainian higher authorities have since ordered officials to ban soldiers from all gambling activities and to put Ukraine's gambling industry under tighter control.

Now, do you think soldiers who have left home for a long time and are going through boredom should be restricted from engaging in gambling which helps reduce their stress? If gambling does not have any effect on their performance on the waterfront and they gamble responsibly, do you think there should be restrictions?


https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ukraine-war-soldiers-gambling-industry-1.7189835

And that should be done by the President since its not good to see his soldiers participating to much on gambling since we know the emotional complication what it could especially if they became so affected on this activity like getting an addiction unto this game.

For sure they would do any destructive behavior and it will be so bad since those guys are well trained then armed. So to avoid any possible crimes also violence to be committed much better if they restrict their soldier to participate on any gambling activities. To lame reasoning if they make it as an excuse to relieve their stress since there's lot of ways to entertain theirselves without participating on any gambling activities.

[Assface16678]

Now, do you think soldiers who have left home for a long time and are going through boredom should be restricted from engaging in gambling which helps reduce their stress? If gambling does not have any effect on their performance on the waterfront and they gamble responsibly, do you think there should be restrictions?

There are other ways a soldier deal with their stress rather than gambling to take away some thoughts in their mind. It does not have to be gambling. On a normal circumstance, there should be nothing wrong in them doing that but according to the news, they’re getting more engaged with gambling and are stuck up in a lot of debts which is not a good thing for a patriotic soldier man that is serving his nation. The president only put those restrictions to them for their own good and nothing else. I am in support of the president because gambling is to be controlled even though you are of the age of gambling and can decide for yourself. Going into huge debts by soldiers is not a good thing, so it needs to be more regulated for them.

But again no matter what restrictions there is those soldiers will find their way to gamble or play, it doesnt need to be those know gambling or casino games, they could play sports or something that could involved money or gambling itself, I get it, its bad for a soldiers to have a huge debt just because they gamble while on duty but I think we cant prevent it from happening as that is their way of enjoying with their comrades, its their way of strengthen their bonds and their way of making things lighter for them, so for me okay implement those restrictions but I doubt that it would entirely control or stop those soldiers to have fun even just a brief of time, remember what they are doing is not easy so they need something that could ease their minds and make them sane. There are many other ways for them to pass time, but it's hard to prohibit gambling for them.

[Alphakilo]

I think the restrictions would help to make the soldiers more focused and battle ready instead of their minds divided between the upcoming battle and the potential wins they can get from participating in Gambling activities.

Afterall, gambling is supposed to firstly be a source of entertainment and relaxation rather than a moral booster to soldiers who may have little or no need for the money they win in the war torn environment.

[aylabadia05]

Now, do you think soldiers who have left home for a long time and are going through boredom should be restricted from engaging in gambling which helps reduce their stress? If gambling does not have any effect on their performance on the waterfront and they gamble responsibly, do you think there should be restrictions?

Although he is a soldier who must submit and obey the applicable rules, Freedom must exist in every activity of his life as a human being.

As long as they can control their time well, I think there should be no restrictions if their performance is not disturbed. They can make games in their spare time to entertain themselves. But those who gamble if caught will get a bad image for others.

[Casdinyard]

Eight Hundred years ago King Richard enacted a law that restricted his soldiers from gambling during wartime. This was because it was observed that soldiers used gambling to overcome the stress of war.

Recently Ukrainian Pavlo Petrychenko soldier put forward a petition calling on Kyiv to address concerns about gambling among its battle-worn soldiers. Online gambling and access to mobile phones have made it very easy for soldiers to engage in betting under any condition.  His concern was that soldiers were falling into debt; of gambling firms using patriotic-themed advertising and tactics to target soldiers' business, and of possible security threats from Russian casino sites.

His observation was supported by many Ukrainians who signed the petition and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy saw the need to control the gambling behavior of soldiers. Ukrainian higher authorities have since ordered officials to ban soldiers from all gambling activities and to put Ukraine's gambling industry under tighter control.

Now, do you think soldiers who have left home for a long time and are going through boredom should be restricted from engaging in gambling which helps reduce their stress? If gambling does not have any effect on their performance on the waterfront and they gamble responsibly, do you think there should be restrictions?


https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ukraine-war-soldiers-gambling-industry-1.7189835

  I think there's two sides to this equation. The first one being that these soldiers have in no way of really entertaining themselves except through gambling, the higher ups know well enough how important rest and relaxation is to maintain the morale of the whole army, and them taking away this from their soldiers would have detrimental consequences. On the other hand, I see the idea of these gambling soldiers becoming too invested in gambling and not being able to do what they were intended to do, cause now instead of putting their mind and their body into training so they don't die in the front lines they end up gambling instead, which is also of course, detrimental to the quality of the army.

I think there is a middle ground that could be met between the two sides, where they don't have to really lose both. Gambling is a good way to let off some steam, especially in such a setting where other ways just wouldn't be easily accessible.

[TheUltraElite]

It is bad to see that some soldiers have gone into debts. But soldier or not the basic human emotion is same in everyone and they are also going to fall prey of gambling marketing. Most of them are suffering from some sort of trauma during war often going to get addicted to substances and and alcohol.

They need to be extra careful while visiting such sites. It's better for them if it is possible to spend time more with friends and family than gambling sites.

[lovesmayfamilis]

Firstly, the question immediately arises: how is it possible to prohibit people from playing? They don't go to casinos but use their mobile phones. Does the ban imply that they should forfeit their phone? In this case, they will be deprived of their only joy, communication with family and friends. In the end, people who give their lives for their homeland have the right to play at their leisure for any amount they have, since, for obvious reasons, we all know that their lives can end at any moment. I don't think people who see a lot of blood will be scared by any gambling losses.

[Queentoshi]

If gambling does not have any effect on their performance on the waterfront and they gamble responsibly, do you think there should be restrictions?

The thing is that it will be difficult to actually know that a soldier who just gambled has not been affected negatively maybe due to massive loss just made and debts that they have incurred, so this may be their fear. A soldier who is depressed from losing money to a casino may not be mentally sharp if there is an emergency, maybe this is a reason why the consideration to ban it has come up.
Instead of them to just stop it, they should introduce safer alternatives to these soldiers who are both mentally and physically stressed.

[GxSTxV]

I don’t believe that gambling should be the government's primary concern when it comes to soldiers in Ukraine or any other country under war. Soldiers go through immense stress, fear, and need to maintain focus during difficult times on the front lines of that war. If a soldier chooses to responsibly use their own money for online casino gaming to relax and distract themselves from all of that, not to think always they are in danger of death, to me I see that it could be beneficial for them. After all, soldiers are human too and deserve moments of enjoyment and relaxation in those hard times

In this particular case, there are arguments both for and against allowing soldiers to gamble during wartime, considering its potential short term and long term impacts on them, it is very hard to have a good decision and conclusion. Furthermore, I question how effective it would be for the government to try to stop soldiers from accessing online casinos, especially since they could easily use VPNs.

[Jating]

For the question of whether if they are going to be restricted, I will say no. For me, everyone has the right to play and gamble as long as it is their own money. The problem here is that maybe it's just another reason for soldiers to cope stress though. I mean they could lose money obviously and that it could bring more problems to them specially if they come home empty handed and with no money to bring to their families after serving in the war.

I think that is what the government here is trying to address to. And for soldiers, perhaps it's just a small percentage that the gamble, they could still be soldiers who are more intelligent that losing their money and at the same time is battle worn.

[coin-investor]

Now, do you think soldiers who have left home for a long time and are going through boredom should be restricted from engaging in gambling which helps reduce their stress? If gambling does not have any effect on their performance on the waterfront and they gamble responsibly, do you think there should be restrictions?

Online casinos promote themselves as an entertainment portal and where else people who suffer from boredom and looking something to excite them but gambling apart from gaming and watching online movies gambling offers a good stress reliever if taken with the right mindset.

War is not only depressing but they are risking their lives, they have anxiety if they are going to get home alive, the best that their commanders do is to counsel these soldiers to become a responsible gambler and do not take it seriously but as something to take away the grim of wars.

[danherbias07]

I don't like the total restriction because what if they are really bored and have nothing to do? What about those who have little time to rest and want to be entertained somehow? I think what they need is to remind them of their goals while they can still gamble in their free time.
Some of them may have lost their family and have no one else in their lives and have no one to call during their rest so they are just switching to their other habit which I think is gambling to keep themselves occupied in times of boredom.
If the government will restrict this, they should also be ready with other ways to provide entertainment for them.

[EluguHcman]

Now, do you think soldiers who have left home for a long time and are going through boredom should be restricted from engaging in gambling which helps reduce their stress? If gambling does not have any effect on their performance on the waterfront and they gamble responsibly, do you think there should be restrictions?

Sometimes ago, I read an article stating that soldiers who are on special mission especially in a foreign for war are kept their bank accounts on hold by the government or per saying the military authority.

And this is to deny them access money which may entitle them from living a financial affordable lifes while at their war front and then gains access to the accounts when they falls back from the war.

This should be applicable to soldiers and gambling as I may think. We may not be able to identify what soldiers are responsible or irresponsible gamblers.
So believing gambling can be a game of fun or profit games, it is usually individual decisions as we gambles so, either not the gambling for fun  nor the profit gamblers is advisable for the accessibilities of soldiers in the war front.

So, there should be gambling access denial on them while in the war front and then they can regain access when they leaves the war front for homes or the non dangerous warned zones.

[summonerrk]

Eight Hundred years ago King Richard enacted a law that restricted his soldiers from gambling during wartime. This was because it was observed that soldiers used gambling to overcome the stress of war.

Recently Ukrainian Pavlo Petrychenko soldier put forward a petition calling on Kyiv to address concerns about gambling among its battle-worn soldiers. Online gambling and access to mobile phones have made it very easy for soldiers to engage in betting under any condition.  His concern was that soldiers were falling into debt; of gambling firms using patriotic-themed advertising and tactics to target soldiers' business, and of possible security threats from Russian casino sites.

His observation was supported by many Ukrainians who signed the petition and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy saw the need to control the gambling behavior of soldiers. Ukrainian higher authorities have since ordered officials to ban soldiers from all gambling activities and to put Ukraine's gambling industry under tighter control.

Now, do you think soldiers who have left home for a long time and are going through boredom should be restricted from engaging in gambling which helps reduce their stress? If gambling does not have any effect on their performance on the waterfront and they gamble responsibly, do you think there should be restrictions?


https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ukraine-war-soldiers-gambling-industry-1.7189835

Obviously, gambling is such an addictive and life-changing game that it has no equal. The fact is that there is no way to change your life in any game. Ordinary computer games are not capable of this. So that's why it's not surprising that soldiers all over the world are escaping from the harsh reality of their army days by gambling. I think that the only thing that could distract them more from internal injuries is extreme, but online gambling is something that they can get here and now. And it's sad, because many of them lose money that could be useful to them later.