IZAZOVI PROBLEMA KOCKANJA U SLOVENIJI

Debates on gambling and related policy‐making are rarely based on conclusive and reliable data about this sector’s social effects. The said is also true for Slovenia. In this paper, we are calculating social costs of gambling in Slovenia and in the Goriška region in view of plans of possible investments into new resort casinos. In the first section, we review the gambling history and the current gambling market. After that we estimate the extent of the current problem and pathological gambling on the basis of the limited available data and develop scenarios of possible future trends. After that we examine strategies used in Slovenia to help and care for pathological and problem gamblers, and evaluate existing mechanisms. At the end of the paper we present two conclusions. Firstly, preventing gambling addiction is a difficult task, although expansion of the gambling sector does not necessarily imply a steep increase in social costs of gambling. Comprehensive system of responsible gambling including preventive measures and treatment of gambling addiction is the key issue. Secondly, available data on trends and developments regarding problem gambling in Slovenia is insufficient. Therefore, it is vital that we establish an observatory for longitudinal research on these issues and it should become part of a comprehensive system of socially responsible gambling.Rasprave o kockanju i politici prema kockanju u Sloveniji se ne temelje na mjerodavnim i pouzdanim podacima o socijalnim učincima ove pojave. U ovom tekstu procjenjujemo socijalne troškove kockanja u Sloveniji i Goriškoj, imajući u vidu planove za moguće ulaganje u kasina. U prvom dijelu prikazali smo povijest kockanja i trenutno stanje na kockarskom tržištu. Nakon toga procijenili smo rasprostranjenost ovog problema i patološkog kockanja na temelju ograničenih dostupnih podataka te razvili scenarij mogućih trendova u budućnosti. Nakon toga ispitali smo kako Slovenija skrbi i pomaže patološkim i problematičnim kockarima i evaluirali postojeće mehanizme. Na kraju smo došli do dva zaključka. Prvo, prevencija ovisnosti o kockanju je težak zadatak, iako ekspanzija u kockarskom sektoru nužno ne dovodi do povećanja socijalnih troškova kockanja. Cjelovit sustav odgovornog kockanja, koji uključuje preventivne mjere i tretman kockarske ovisnosti je ključni cilj. Drugo, imamo malo podataka na raspolaganju o trendovima i razvoju problematičnog kockanja u Sloveniji. Od vitalne je važnosti da smo ustanovili polazište za longitudinalno istraživanje o ovoj temi koje treba postati dijelom cjelovitog sustava socijalno odgovornog kockanja