On 27 November 2025, D. Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University (EKTU), in cooperation with the Regional Centre for Psychological Support and Assistance of the Department of Education of East Kazakhstan Region, hosted a workshop dedicated to the early detection and prevention of gambling addiction among young people. The event was held within the framework of project AP26101217 "Comprehensive Study and Preventive Model of Gambling Addiction in Kazakhstan: An Interdisciplinary Approach". The aim of the workshop was to enhance the competencies of teachers, psychologists and other stakeholders in recognizing early signs of gambling addiction (ludomania), as well as to develop practical skills in prevention, support and interagency cooperation to reduce gambling-related risks in educational settings and families.
The joint initiative of EKTU and the Regional Centre for Psychological Support and Assistance of the Department of Education of East Kazakhstan Region is aimed at strengthening partnerships between the university, educational organisations and specialised services in the field of mental health protection for children and adolescents. The workshop served as a professional platform for constructive dialogue among school and college teachers, practising psychologists, representatives of education authorities, healthcare professionals and the research community. The interdisciplinary format of the event, bringing together economics, pedagogy, psychology, sociology and public health, aligns with EKTU's strategic focus on research driven by societal needs and contributes to the development of a safe, supportive and inclusive educational environment in the region.
The programme presented key results and plans of the project on studying gambling addiction among Kazakhstani youth. Project Leader A. Samambayeva outlined the goals, structure and expected outcomes of developing an interdisciplinary preventive model tailored to the Kazakhstani context and the specifics of the digital environment. N. Saifullina delivered a presentation on gambling addiction among Generation Z, focusing on motivational factors, harmful dependencies, economic consequences and the legal regulation of gambling. A separate block was devoted to a review of international and national studies on gambling addiction: four key clusters were identified - risky behaviour and pathological gambling, cognitive processes and decision-making, internet addiction and personality traits - which helped participants to better understand the multifactorial nature of ludomania.
Special attention during the workshop was given to the legal and institutional framework in Kazakhstan for countering gambling addiction. In her presentation, L. Kozhgeldiyeva highlighted Kazakhstan's experience in raising awareness of gambling risks, noting the role of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan in regulating the industry, the introduction of advertising restrictions, as well as long-term bans on participation in gambling for certain categories of citizens. The initiatives of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Republic of Kazakhstan in organising treatment and prevention of gambling addiction were also considered, including a clinical protocol reflecting ICD-11 classification and the work of mental health centres providing free services to children, students and vulnerable population groups. It was noted that, according to expert estimates, there are several tens of thousands of people in the country with problem gambling behaviour, while the number of officially registered patients is significantly lower, which underlines the issue of hidden morbidity and stigma.
Following the workshop, participants stressed the high relevance of systematic, evidence-based prevention of gambling addiction in educational organisations and the need to strengthen awareness-raising activities among parents, school psychologists and social pedagogues. As next steps, the AP26101217 project team will continue refining the tools for a national student survey in coordination with psychologists and educators, conduct data collection and multidisciplinary analysis (psychological, economic, pedagogical and legal), develop methodological and educational programmes for teachers, and prepare recommendations for improving gambling-related policy and legislation. The findings and feedback from participants will be integrated into the further implementation of project AP26101217 and will serve as a basis for designing effective mechanisms to reduce the risks of gambling addiction among children and young people in Kazakhstan.
