This article is also available in:
Русский (Russian) 
Uzbek
Recently, social media was shaken by a shocking video from Andijan, where a young man, in utter despair, pours gasoline over himself and sets himself on fire. According to some reports, the tragedy was driven by a major loss in an online casino.
The General Prosecutor’s Office reported that the incident took place on October 31 at 10:40 PM in the “Ilgor” mahalla, where a 23-year-old local resident attempted suicide on the street. He was taken to the Center for Emergency Medical Care with serious burns and is currently receiving necessary medical treatment.
This case highlights the devastating impact of online betting platforms and casinos, which have become a real epidemic in society. Virtual gambling offers a fast and easily accessible route to financial dependency, which is hard to overcome. Many start gambling out of curiosity, but after their first significant loss, they continue betting, hoping to recover. Accumulated debts, isolation, and feelings of hopelessness can drive gamblers, especially young people, to the brink.
Online casinos employ aggressive marketing tactics: advertisements promise easy winnings and instant wealth. But the harsh reality is that players are often left with debts, damaged health, and broken relationships.
The incident in Andijan is not just an isolated case; it’s a warning signal. A preliminary investigation is currently underway, yet it’s clear that the organizers of the online casino where the victim was gambling may evade accountability. Even more concerning is that from January 1, 2025, betting shops and online gambling platforms will be officially permitted in Uzbekistan.
Authorities argue that this decision is necessary to protect citizens who are already using foreign platforms for gambling. Plans include developing regulations that supposedly will protect vulnerable groups, government employees, and citizens with gambling addictions from participating in these activities.
However, stricter measures are required to limit access to online casinos and betting platforms, especially for the youth. This tragedy underscores the urgent need to introduce measures that will reduce access to gambling and enhance preventive efforts to prevent further cases of despair and hopelessness.
The article may contain inaccuracies as it is translated by AI. For more details, please refer to the Russian version of the article. If you notice any inaccuracies, you can send corrections via the Telegram bot: Uzvaibik_bot.
