In the Czech Republic, an unprecedented number of individuals turned to gambling addiction helplines in 2024, with 1,674 calls made to the compulsive gambling helpline, marking a staggering 220% increase from the previous year.
The helpline, operated by the Naberte kurz center of the Podané ruce organization, works in collaboration with the “Responsible Gambling” project. Alongside calls, nearly 15,000 people accessed help through the initiative’s website. Since April, the helpline has been available around the clock.
“The growing number of requests indicates that the taboo surrounding the acknowledgment of gambling problems is gradually fading,” said Jan Řehoľa from the Institute for Gambling Regulation. The free and anonymous helpline serves not only gamblers but also their concerned family members. Most of the calls are from people aged over 45 (46%) and between 25-34 years old (31%). Regionally, the majority of calls come from Prague, followed by the Olomouc and South Moravian regions. About one-fifth of the callers have reached out multiple times.
In addition to the helpline, other channels have been used for assistance: over 560 individuals reached out via the Naberte kurz website chat, more than 250 contacted through email, and around 100 sought help via social media. “We are contacted not only by pathological gamblers but also by those who want to control their gambling or start playing responsibly. Family members of problem gamblers also reach out.
The most frequent questions concern the exclusion register, apps that block gambling content, and identifying the boundaries of problematic gambling,” said Jana Dominika Šatánková, head of the methodological development department at the Center.
