In 1998 the casinos were closed. The state took a clear decision that day: Gambling harms this society. It destroys the family, drives people into debt and breeds crime. The neon lights went out, the tables were cleared. ’This is over,“ they said.
But it is not over.
It just changed shape.
Today gambling is not in the halls; it is in our pockets. On phone screens. And it is quieter, more invisible, more widespread than before. You don't walk through the door anymore; you click on the link. No one sees, no one asks. For the first time, gambling is so easy and so hidden.
And this is where the real problem started.
The state shut down physical gambling but failed to crack down enough on virtual gambling. Because it was not just a matter of the venue. Gambling was a habit, an addiction. That habit found a place. This time in the virtual world.
Today, hundreds of thousands of illegal websites are shut down every year. These figures are presented as “we are struggling”. However, the same figures also show another reality: For every site that is shut down, a new one is opened. This means that the problem does not end; it creeps on.
We need to stop here and ask honestly:
Why are these people playing?
Why is this system still working?
Because there is an economic squeeze. Income is not enough, debt is growing, the future is uncertain. The promise of an “overnight win” creates a powerful attraction for people with little hope. Gambling is no longer entertainment; it is a false outlet for despair. The loser does not stop. Because he wants to make up for his loss. One more hand, one more coupon... This is how the cycle is set up.
The psychological side is even more severe. Virtual gambling targets loneliness. Behind the screen, no one judges. One only tries once more. And then one more time. And before you know it, addiction sets in.
At this point, the answer to the question “what should be done?” is actually not unknown. It is obvious that this cannot be prevented without stopping the flow of money. If payment channels, virtual wallets, crypto transitions were really supervised; if advertising and guidance language were decisively blocked; this network, especially reaching young people, would take a serious blow. If gambling addiction is no longer shameful, is openly recognized, and treatment mechanisms are established without hiding it, people can be caught before they fall into debt. If real and deterrent sanctions were imposed not on those who play, but on those who organize this business, the system would not work so easily.
None of these are unknown or impossible steps. They have been talked about for years and everyone knows them. But they are not being realized. And this is where the real question arises: Is cyber gambling really being tackled, or is it seen as a problem that is supposed to be kept under control?
The cost of this swamp is growing every day. Families pay. Those who cannot bring their salaries home, those who hide their debts, those who try to survive with lies... After a while, the money issue ends, trust dissipates. Houses become quiet inside. Arguments, ruptures, invisible burdens on the shoulders of children... Gambling consumes the life of a family, not a person.
Businesses are paying. Petty thefts to make up for lost money, embezzlement, stories that start with “I'll put it back” but end in crime... Trust relationships collapse. A person plays, an institution pays the price.
Young people pay. There are those who meet debt at the very beginning of life. “Let me try it once” and those who cannot get out... The tale of easy money eats away at the idea of labor and the sense of future. Patience disappears. The belief in progress through hard work erodes.
Society pays. As debt, crime and addiction grow, the justice, security and health systems are burdened. In other words, virtual gambling is not an individual choice; it generates a cost that falls on the shoulders of the public.
We still think that we can solve the problem only by “closing down websites”. However, the determination that was shown when casinos were shut down is not shown today for virtual gambling. It is assumed that because the format has changed, the damage has been reduced.
However, only the address has changed.
The price is the same.
Even heavier.
And there is still one question that remains unanswered:
Why are steps to change this picture still not taken?