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– You change your personality when you are spillavhengig. Often you will have to lie. Especially for yourself, but also for others, about why you should borrow money, or why the money is gone. Finally, as you end up broke. You win never.
So explains Ole Kristian Ruud’s life as spillavhengig. He paints a grim picture. About lies, about despair, about the friends you lose, and if the bridges are burnt.
When korona crisis hit Norway for seriously the 12. march, hit some vulnerable groups hard. Including many who had finally managed to get her life on track after gaming addiction.
the Absence of procedures affects the
SUBJECT: Ole Kristian Ruud was dependent on the games on the net. He has recently talked with several people who have had a relapse.
Photo: Christian Nygaard-Monsen / NRK
In the course of the year, the organisation has gaming addiction Norway had an increase in the number of general inquiries at 74 per cent, compared to last year. The greatest increase is in January, i.e. prior to koronaviruset came to Norway.
But in march took people contact of a more specific reason: Several say they have been relapse to gambling.
We are located between 15-20 relapse page 12. march, when we started this count. There are quite a few more than we usually notice the rest of the year. It is quite powerful figures in a short time, and it concerns us very, for it is only those who dare to take contact, ” says political counselor in gaming addiction Norway, Magnus Pedersen.
I think the whole situation is stressful. It is there we get feedback on. People are concerned, and the prospects are very bleak when we are constantly being peppered with that everything goes straight west, he continues.
Some of the tilbakefallene due, perhaps, that people are sitting at home, bored, and generally worried about the time, think Ruud.
GAMES ON NET: It is possible to play on gaming machines, casino and online poker on the web. For some, it may be a way to escape from today’s everyday life.
Photo: Heiko Junge / NTB Scanpix
– most usually have a routine. Whether it is work, children, sports, training. They are now gone. And most of the time are sitting at home. Then we have the TV, PC, phone. And it’s good enough. But then one begins to get bored. You stop up with things to do. What will you do then? ask Ruud rhetorically.
May seek your help
He started to play in the 11-12-years of age. He started with slots, but when they were illegal in Norway, he went over to play on the internet.
It took many years before Ole Kristian came out of the spillspiralen. He says he still is spillavhengig, there will he never get rid of. But he is still bored of the game. And the door to play, he has closed for good. It is no longer a possibility for him. But he had to seek help in order to succeed.
– I’ve had people around me who cared so much and have relied on me so that I have turned my life, ” says Ruud.
Blue Cross is another organization that helps the spillavhengige and has several hjelpetilbud. The notice also an increased demand.
CONCERNED: the general Secretary of Blue Cross, Kjetil Haga.
Photo: Kathrine Nygård / Blue cross
It’s a little early in this phase, the toe say that we have a clear statistics on that, but there has been a general increase in the us, says the general secretary of Blue Cross, Kjetil Haga.
They are naturally worried about the situation, and encourages people to care about each other and to contact us if you need help.
Play can be a form of escape and følelsesregulering in this situation, and they are important that we then try to counteract that this happens. Seek help in time if you feel that things are about to go out of control, ” says Haga.
gaming company: – Health and safety the highest priority
When Ruud realized that he needed help, he took contact with an acquaintance who had started a group for spillavhengige in his hometown of Halden. Moreover, he also got help from gaming addiction Norway. Now help he himself with to help those who are struggling.
He believes spillselskapene is extra edgy in their marketing these days. Although, he has received several text messages from various companies.
– I used to get two messages in the previous month. When korona came, so… I got two messages just yesterday, ” says Ruud.
PR-responsible in the spillselskapet Kindred Norway, Martin Bekkelien, say they notice that several are moving their gambling activity to poker and casino now that it’s not played football matches and other sports. He believes that the Kindred do what they can to help the vulnerable.
Koronaviruset affects our society in ways we have never seen before. Health and safety must be the highest priority right now. With this as a starting point, add Kindred Group now plans for how we can ensure our operation in the markets we operate in, to ensure that our customers can continue to play in a safe and responsible environment, ” says Bekkelien.
Norsk Tipping has not noticed any major changes in the spilladferd currently. They underline at the same time that it is too early to determine any clear trends. With them you can max lose the 20,000 dollars a month.
– the Number of that lose until the max goes down – there were fewer who reached the maximum of the loss in march than in February, ” says communications advisor at Norsk Tipping, the Roar Jødahl.
– A vulnerable time
gaming addiction Norway is concerned that spillreklamene scroll across the TV screens and are sent out as text messages these days.
ASSISTS: Magnus Pedersen in gaming addiction Norway are among those who are trying to help people out of dependency.
Photo: NRK
– When you are in a situation where you are laid off, or are about to be laid off, then you get a message that there are 6,000 in money and hold on an account, maybe more, maybe less. Then it is very tempting to take the offer right then. So you are extra vulnerable and everything else feels like that there is no way out, ” says Pedersen.
He urges the spillavhengige to contact and speak with someone. At the same time he is asking others to be extra attentive to those who may be in a vulnerable situation.
– This is a vulnerable time. For people sitting at home, they are looking for things to do. What may start as a search for excitement, can quickly become a very serious problem, ” says Pedersen.
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