Prevention of gambling addiction: current issues of public policy and legal regulation

The article is devoted to the analysis of topical issues of gambling addiction prevention in the context of state policy and legal regulation in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Gambling addiction is considered as a complex social and medical problem requiring an interdisciplinary approach and coordination of efforts by various state institutions. The paper examines the provisions of the Social Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Law ‘On Gambling Business’, as well as regulatory and legal acts aimed at protecting the interests of citizens, especially young people and socially vulnerable groups. It analyses the current strategies of the World Health Organisation and the European Union, as well as the results of empirical studies published in the international databases Scopus and Web of Science. Particular attention is paid to issues related to the balance between legal regulation and practical prevention measures, including the introduction of digital monitoring technologies, the development of social and psychological support systems, and the formation of a culture of responsible leisure activities. The article provides a critical review of domestic and foreign approaches and identifies gaps in legislation and the practical implementation of prevention programmes. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the comparison of international experience and national legal realities, which makes it possible to develop recommendations for improving state policy in the field of gambling addiction prevention.