As the war in Ukraine drags on, more soldiers are turning to online gambling to cope with stress and trauma. What starts as a way to pass time is becoming a serious issue, risking both mental health and military security.
Boredom, isolation, and danger drive troops to gambling as an escape. But with smartphones, access is constant, and addiction follows.
In 2023, Ukraine’s online gambling market made €3.71 billion, about €8.2 million a day. It’s a booming industry, but experts warn it’s hurting the military.
One former soldier shared: “We were playing slots during patrols, and then we’d go back to the trenches and gamble. At the time, it felt like the only way to numb the pain, but eventually, it went from a distraction to an addiction.”
The number of soldiers registered with gambling problems jumped from 450 in 2022 to 3,700 in 2023. Many lost their pay, took out loans, or even sold military gear, including drones and night-vision scopes, to keep gambling. Some of this gear ended up in pawn shops near the front lines.
Soldier Pawlo Petrychenko raised the alarm, launching a petition to ban online gambling for military personnel.
“My subordinates were losing entire salaries. One of them even sold a night-vision scope to pay off his debt.”
His petition got 25,000 signatures in hours and sparked a national debate. The addiction is hitting not just the soldiers but also their families back home.
What Drove Soldiers to Gamble?
There were several reasons why gambling became so common among Ukrainian soldiers. The constant stress of being in a war zone, paired with long stretches of boredom and separation from family, left many feeling mentally and emotionally drained. For some, gambling became a way to cope or feel a sense of control, even if only for a moment.
Petrychenko explained it this way:
“For many soldiers, gambling became the only way to cope with stress and the mental toll of constant warfare.”
Gambling quickly became addictive for many soldiers, offering a brief escape from the harsh realities of war. With little access to mental health support, some turned to gambling for relief. Psychologists say that while it gave short-term comfort, it often led to a harmful cycle that made things worse. Military chaplains were often the first to hear soldiers’ cries for help, but they didn’t have the tools to deal with the growing crisis.
How Soldiers Are Gambling
The rise in gambling among Ukrainian soldiers is largely due to how easy it is to gamble on smartphones. The most common choices have been online slot machines and sports betting. Fast-paced slot games became a quick escape from stress and boredom.
Many soldiers also bet on sports like football, boxing, tennis, and MMA. What began as a way to pass time or win money turned into addiction for some. Since most gambling was done through mobile apps, soldiers could place bets even from the trenches.
One anonymous soldier said, “Whole paychecks went into slots and sports betting. Soldiers were pawning their military equipment just to keep playing.”
The problem grew so serious that the government had to act. In April 2024, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree banning online gambling for active-duty soldiers during the war.
The decree also blocked illegal gambling sites, limited ads targeting soldiers, and required gambling companies to track banned users. A new law also made education about gambling addiction mandatory.
Experts say these steps are helpful, but not enough. As one put it, “The Chief Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine must immediately introduce a ban on military personnel accessing gambling establishments and participating in online gambling during the period of martial law.”
Gambling also created a serious security threat. Soldiers used smartphones to gamble, which revealed their GPS locations. Russian forces could intercept these signals and locate Ukrainian troops. Security expert Oleksandr Lysenko warned, “By engaging in online gambling, soldiers were unknowingly revealing their positions. This was a security risk not only to them but also to their comrades.”
Gambling has always been part of military life – even Roman and World War soldiers gambled. But now it’s digital, constant, and far more addictive.
The real challenge isn’t just gambling itself, but how instant and available it is. With 24/7 access, soldiers are more vulnerable than ever. Government action is a good start, but experts agree that real progress will require long-term mental health care and stronger addiction support.
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