Reviewed byBaurzhan Kassymov, MDAddiction physician · updated 11.11.2026
Key facts
- ICD-10 code
- F63.0
- Who provides care
- a psychotherapist and a psychiatrist; if gambling is combined with alcohol or drug use, an addiction physician as well
- Where
- the Akalam clinic in Almaty, plus online sessions for people who work or live in the suburbs
- Duration
- a core course of psychotherapy lasting 2–3 months, with maintenance sessions for up to a year
- Anonymity
- anonymous, with no registration; information about debts and family never leaves the consulting room
- When it is urgent
- suicidal thoughts because of debt, despair, or threats: call 112 immediately; for young people, the 150 helpline
- Outcome
- stopping betting, control over money, a debt repayment plan, and restored relationships
What to know
Today, gambling addiction rarely looks like a man sitting in a casino. More often, it is a young IT specialist or a student placing sports bets on a phone on the way to work, at lunch, and at night. Betting is available around the clock, money disappears in a few taps, and debts grow without anyone noticing: payday microloans, loans from friends, a laptop that got sold. The family finds out when debt collectors start calling, and the shock is often greater than news about a drinking problem.
Pathological gambling is officially recognized as a disorder, and it is treated by doctors and psychotherapists. There are no medications that “take away the urge to gamble,” so psychotherapy is the foundation of treatment. Our task is to help the person stop, understand what keeps pulling them in, set up financial controls, and treat the co-occurring anxiety, depression, or insomnia that often keep the gambling going.
Signs That Gambling Has Become an Addiction
- thoughts about betting take up most of the day, and it is hard to concentrate on work
- bet sizes keep growing to get the same thrill as before
- after a loss, you feel an urgent need to “win it back”
- you hide the real amounts of your losses and debts from loved ones
- microloans, loans from acquaintances, and selling personal belongings have appeared
- attempts to stop cause irritability, anxiety, and insomnia
- gambling has become a way to escape stress, boredom, or loneliness
If life is at risk — loss of consciousness, seizures, hallucinations, overdose, suicidal thoughts — call 103 or 112. Helpline for children and young people: 150.
Why a Person Cannot Simply Stop Gambling
Gambling acts on the same reward system in the brain as psychoactive substances do. Unpredictable wins are especially compelling: the brain remembers the rare lucky streaks and underestimates the losses. Over time, tolerance and withdrawal develop, just as they do with substance addiction. Logical arguments that “the house always wins” have almost no effect at this point.
The risk is higher in people who are impulsive or have ADHD, an anxiety disorder, or depression, and in those who spend a lot of time online and are lonely. In the fast pace of a big city, betting easily becomes a way to relieve tension after work. Debts increase stress, stress pushes a person toward new bets, and the circle closes. That is why treatment has to address both emotions and money.
How Gambling Addiction Treatment Works
The first session can take place online: the psychotherapist finds out how long and where the person has been gambling, what debts there are, and whether there is anxiety, depression, or alcohol use. This is followed by an in-person consultation with a psychiatrist to assess co-occurring disorders. A plan is drawn up: weekly CBT, setting up blocks, temporarily handing control over bank cards to a trusted person, and consultations for the family. Most sessions can conveniently be held by video.
An online-only format is not enough if there is severe depression, suicidal thoughts, combined alcohol or drug use, or serious sleep problems. In that case, an in-person appointment with a psychiatrist is needed, and sometimes an inpatient stay. If a person says they do not want to live or starts saying goodbye to loved ones, do not wait for an appointment: call 112; for teenagers and young people, the 150 helpline is available.
How we help
Cognitive behavioral therapy
CBT is the method with the strongest evidence base for gambling addiction and is recommended by international guidelines, including NICE. The patient learns to notice distorted thoughts (“this time I am bound to win,” “I can feel the system”), to recognize situations that trigger the urge to gamble, and to prepare alternative actions in advance. This usually takes 8–16 sessions.
Motivational interviewing
Many people come to treatment under pressure from their family and are not sure they need it. Motivational interviewing helps the person weigh for themselves what gambling gives them and what it takes away, and arrive at their own decision to change. It is not persuasion or lecturing but a structured conversation that increases readiness for treatment and reduces resistance.
Treatment of co-occurring disorders
If the patient has depression, an anxiety disorder, insomnia, or ADHD, a psychiatrist prescribes treatment, including medications from the antidepressant or mood stabilizer groups when needed, but only after an examination. This is not a cure for gambling addiction, but without treating these conditions it is much harder for a person to resist gambling.
Financial control and working with the family
We help put together a plan: blocking bookmaker websites and apps, self-exclusion, temporarily handing over control of money, and a debt repayment plan. In family consultations, loved ones learn how to offer support without paying off someone else’s debts or carrying out endless checks. Mutual-help groups can be a good addition.
How treatment works
- 01Call or WhatsAppThe administrator and the doctor on duty clarify the situation and tell you what to do right now.
- 02Examination or consultationThe doctor visits your home, sees you at the clinic or joins by video.
- 03Treatment planWe choose the format — at home, inpatient, psychotherapy or rehab — with a clear price.
- 04Ongoing supportYour doctor and psychotherapist stay in touch: follow-ups, family support and relapse prevention.
Myths and facts
MythGambling addiction is just a weakness of character
FactPathological gambling is recognized as a disorder in ICD-10 and ICD-11. It is linked to changes in the brain’s reward system and, like other addictions, is treated with psychotherapy and specialized care.
MythIf the debts are paid off, the person will stop gambling
FactPaying off debts on the patient’s behalf is often seen as a chance to start over and leads to new bets. Financial help works only in combination with treatment and a clear plan for controlling money.
MythThere is a pill that takes away the urge to gamble
FactThere are no specific medications for gambling addiction. Medications are used to treat co-occurring depression or anxiety. The foundation of treatment is psychotherapy, changing habits, and controlling access to betting.
Prices: Gambling addiction treatment
| Gambling addiction treatment | 25 000 ₸ |
| Addiction doctor home visit: examination and advice | 20 000 ₸ |
| Repeat IV drip the next day | 20 000 ₸ |
| 24 hours in the inpatient unit | 45 000 ₸ |
| Phone consultation | free |
Prices are approximate: the doctor confirms the exact cost after the examination, before treatment starts.
Confidential
We do not register patients with state dispensaries or share information with employers. You do not have to give your surname; doctors arrive in unmarked cars. Medical confidentiality is protected by the Code of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”.
Clinic addresses
FAQ
Can gambling addiction be cured completely?
Many people achieve lasting remission and do not gamble for years. However, the vulnerability remains, so it is important to know your triggers and have a plan for moments of temptation. We talk about gaining control over the disorder, not about a guarantee that the urge will never come back.
How long does treatment take?
A core course of psychotherapy usually means two to three months of weekly sessions. After that, sessions become less frequent and continue for up to a year. If there is co-occurring depression or anxiety, the timeline may be longer. The plan is discussed at the first consultation.
What should relatives do if the person denies the problem?
Do not pay off their debts unconditionally, and do not interrogate them. Come to a consultation yourself: the psychotherapist will help you choose the right words and the right moment for the conversation. An adult cannot be treated against their will, but a calm stance from the family often helps the person agree to a first session.
Can treatment be done entirely online?
Psychotherapy for gambling addiction works well online, especially for people who live in the suburbs or work long hours. An in-person appointment with a psychiatrist is needed if there is depression, insomnia, suicidal thoughts, or combined alcohol use. At Akalam, these formats are combined.
Will my bank or employer find out about the treatment?
No. Treatment is anonymous, with no registration, and your information is protected by medical confidentiality under the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System.” We do not share information with banks, debt collectors, or employers. Exceptions are possible only in cases expressly provided for by law.
How can I help if the person is in debt and in despair?
Listen without blaming them and book a consultation. If they express suicidal thoughts, do not leave them alone and call 112; for teenagers and young people, the 150 helpline is available. Debt issues are best dealt with once treatment is underway and the despair has eased a little.
Sources and review
Prepared by the Akalam medical editorial team based on:
- ICD-10 and ICD-11: mental and behavioural disorders
- Clinical protocols of the Ministry of Health of Kazakhstan
- Code of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”
- WHO: mental health and substance use
- NICE and APA clinical guidelines
This information is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation. Editorial policy