gelişim üniversitesi
  Corporate Communications Department -

A growing societal problem: Online Gambling Addiction

gelişim üniversitesi
  1.   Corporate Communications Department
  2. News


A growing societal problem: Online Gambling Addiction


Recently, online gambling addiction, which is frequently seen particularly in young people, leads to financial difficulties as well as negatively affecting the social life of individuals. Psychologist Lect. Berk Efe Altınal stated: "Although it is considered a crime by law to gamble or provide an environment for gambling games in Türkiye, a number of platforms have emerged that promise new, chance-based winnings that go beyond the traditional forms of gambling."


Istanbul Gelisim University (IGU), Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Child Development Lect. Berk Efe Altınal remarked that in addition to new forms such as online gambling platforms, some cryptocurrency transactions with a high risk of loss and gain, and "loot box" applications in video games, legal chance and betting games have become much more easily accessible by being moved to the internet.

“Ease of access increases the risk of addiction”

Lect. Berk Efe Altınal: "Research on gambling and gambling addiction states that one of the most important factors that increase the risk of addiction is ease of access. With the widespread use of the internet and smart devices, gambling and games of chance can be accessed regardless of time and place. For this reason, the risk of creating addiction has reached much larger dimensions than in the past.

 Research shows that online platforms are designed to target people who are prone to developing addiction. These platforms, which have much lower public controllability with the international access opportunities provided by the internet network, increase the risk of the spread of addiction, known as Gambling Disorder."

“The amount of money spent to get excitement is constantly increasing”

Lect. Berk Efe Altınal stated that people with ‘Gambling Disorder‘, which is defined as an addiction by the World Health Organization and in the psychiatric diagnostic guide (DSM), need to constantly increase the amount of money spent on gambling to get excitement. When people who develop addictions try to reduce or stop gambling, they get a feeling of restlessness or irritability, and these attempts to reduce and stop it consistently result in failure.

 “Addiction can harm one's work life and relationships”

Stating that the addicted person's mind is often preoccupied with gambling, Berk Efe Altınal also added: “This preoccupation can take many different forms, such as reliving past gambling experiences in the mind, making repeated analyzes of games, planning the next gambling attempt, and thinking about new ways to find money for gambling. In addition, this addiction is associated with turning to gambling again to cope with negative feelings and to make up for lost money in gambling, resorting to lies to hide their activities related to gambling, and starting to rely on others due to the deterioration of business life, friendships and other relationships due to gambling and the deteriorating financial situation.”

"It is possible to get rid of addiction with therapy"

Lect. Berk Efe Altınal: ''The intervention in gambling disorder is made through individual therapy and solidarity groups. In individual therapy, it can be used in a number of therapy methods such as behavioral, cognitive behavioral, and motivational therapy according to the origins of the person's gambling problem. In addition to these therapy methods, solidarity groups such as 'Anonymous Gamblers' are also used."

“The social dimension of gambling disorder should not be ignored”

Stating that it would be inadequate to see gambling disorder as a problem only at the individual level, Altınal said, "In addition to individual therapies for people who have developed this addiction, public health interventions that take into account the social aspect of the issue are of great importance. These include protection programs such as general mental health awareness, prevention of risk-taking behavior trainings and training programs for young people, as well as the regulation and supervision of games of chance and similar sectors. Furthermore, the identification of groups at risk and the establishment of counseling channels that people who are already developing addiction can apply to are among these public health interventions."

Lect. Berk Efe Altınal also stated that it has become even more important in the current period to take all these public health measures by being aware that gambling and chance games are being carried to the online platform and reaching wider masses. 


News

All News
The "Ataturk Commemoration" program was held at IGU!

Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was commemorated at IGU on the 86th anniversary. Commemoration program was carried out with the contributions of IGU Rector Prof. Bahri Şahin, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences Asst. Prof. Abdullah Yüksel Barut, Research Author Dr. Onur Uzer. The program started with the opening speech of IGU Rector Prof. Bahri Şahin, then continued with Yüksel Barut's and Dr. Onur Uzer's speeches. In the program, the folk songs, poems and zeibek dance that Ghazi Atatürk loved were also included.

14 November 2024 Thursday
IGU Faculty of Dentistry 2024-2025 Academic Year White Coat Ceremony was held!

Istanbul Gelisim University Faculty of Dentistry organized a "2024-2025 Academic Year White Coat Ceremony" for students who have just started the faculty this year. Students took their first steps to become the dentists of the future.

13 November 2024 Wednesday
2023-2024 Academic Year Interior Architecture and Environmental Design Mixed Student Projects Exhibition was opened!

Istanbul Gelisim University Faculty of Fine Arts Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design organized the "2023-2024 Education Period Interior Architecture and Environmental Design (Turkish&English) Mixed Student Portraits Exhibition" within the scope of the 2023-2024 Education Period.

11 November 2024 Monday
Great interest in academic literacy education supported by TUBITAK!

Academic literacy education organized by IGU faculty member Dr. Esat Daşdemir titled "Academic Reading, Research, Writing and Publishing Education for Associate and Undergraduate Students" attracted great attention. Hundreds of people applied from 90 different universities that met the criteria for participation in education. During the 20-day announcement and application process, the web page of the project, Akademiloji.com, received more than 2500 unique visitors.

11 November 2024 Monday
China's East China Jiaotong University and Istanbul Gelisim University have reached a cooperation agreement!

Representatives from one of China's reputable universities, East China Jiaotong University (ECJTU), scheduled a visit to Istanbul Gelisim University (IGU) on November 6, 2024. While IGU Rector Prof. Bahri Sahin, Vice Rectors Prof. Arda Ozturkcan, Prof. Necmettin Maraşlı, Prof. Nuri Kuruoğlu, and International Exchange and Cooperation Coordinator Alisa Usubova attended the meeting as part of the visit on behalf of Istanbul Gelişim University, senior academic and administrative administrators, including Rector Liu Hesheng, TTO Director Chen Ke, Human Resources Director Li Dongwei, International School Dean Zhu Wanghai, and Technology Transfer Center Director Luo Guoliang, attended on behalf of ECJTU.

08 November 2024 Friday
The number of records in the IGU Institutional Open Access Archive has exceeded 8,300!

Istanbul Gelisim University Institutional Open Access Archive (DSpace@Gelisim) continues its rise in the Turkish Academic Archive “Harman” system prepared by TUBITAK. As of October 2024, DSpace@Gelisim, which rose to 63rd place among Turkish institutional open access archives, has also exceeded 8,300 in terms of the number of materials.

07 November 2024 Thursday
International Group Painting Exhibition by IGU and Shumen University Faculty Members!

Istanbul Gelisim University (IGU) and Shumen University faculty members in Bulgaria organized an international group painting exhibition at Nikola Marinov Art Gallery. The exhibition was curated by Prof. İsmet Çavuşoğlu, a faculty member of the Graphic Design Department of Istanbul Gelisim University's Faculty of Fine Arts. The opening of the exhibition was carried out by Istanbul Gelisim University Vice Rector Prof. Necmettin Maraşlı.

07 November 2024 Thursday
Sudan Consulate General in Istanbul and Sudanese Authorities Visited Istanbul Gelisim University!

Istanbul Gelisim University hosted Sudan Consulate General in Istanbul Osama Mahgoub, Sudan Student Association President Mohammed Eid and Sudan Diaspora Foreign Relations Officer Ali Mustafa. Rector Prof. Bahri Şahin, Vice Rectors Prof. Nuri Kuruoğlu, Prof. Necmettin Maraşlı and Corporate Communication and Promotion Department Head Asst. Prof. Bülent Değirmenci attended the meeting.

07 November 2024 Thursday
II. International Short Film, Video and Photography Symposium was held!

Organized by the Department of Radio, Television and Cinema of Istanbul Gelisim University (IGU) Faculty of Fine Arts and supported by the T.R. General Directorate of Cinema of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, International Short Film, Video and Photography Symposium was successfully completed.

06 November 2024 Wednesday
Awards were given at the International II. Dicle Documentary and Short Film Festival!

At the II. International Dicle Documentary and Short Film Festival Conference held in Diyarbakır awards were given to the films that made it to the finals. The festival, which was held for the second time this year, received applications for 3 thousand 64 films from 116 countries. After nine months, the finalists have been announced. The final 24 films were shown for two days and interviews were held. Immediately after the interviews held between 2-3 November, speeches were made after the silence and the National Anthem. Then, the top three films were shown and plaques were presented.

04 November 2024 Monday