Slovakia's gambling help line processed 2,866 calls in its first year, with most callers seeking information about exclusion registers and treatment options.
Slovakia's specialized gambling help line achieved a significant milestone this week, reporting that it handled more than 2,800 calls during its first year of operation under new management. The Office for the Regulation of Gambling (ÚRHH), in collaboration with the Specialized Psychiatric Treatment Institution (OLÚP) in Predná Hora and representatives from the Institute for the Regulation of Gambling (IPRHH), reviewed the service's performance on March 12, 2026.
The help line underwent a fundamental transformation a year ago when its operation was transferred to OLÚP Predná Hora, a specialized healthcare institution focused on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of substance and non-substance addictions. This change marked a strategic shift toward providing professional psychological support backed by clinical expertise.
The service provides callers with a secure and confidential environment where specialists with extensive knowledge and experience in gambling addiction offer professional assessment and emotional support. The comprehensive approach aims to create a seamless system spanning from prevention through early intervention to specialized treatment and ongoing support.
“Our ambition is for the help line to not only serve as a crisis contact, but to be part of a comprehensive system from prevention through early intervention to professional treatment and subsequent support”
— Libuša Baranová, General Director, Office for the Regulation of Gambling
The initiative represents a collaborative model between government agencies, professional communities, and licensed gambling operators. Dávid Lenčéš, executive director of the Institute for the Regulation of Gambling, highlighted this partnership approach.
“This project is a good example of what cooperation between the state, professional community, and legal gambling operators can look like”
— Dávid Lenčéš, Executive Director, Institute for the Regulation of Gambling
Global Gambling Helpline Standards
The World Health Organization recommends gambling helplines operate with clinical oversight and maintain caller confidentiality standards equivalent to medical facilities. Leading international services typically require counselors to complete 40+ hours of specialized addiction training annually, with many jurisdictions mandating dual qualifications in both addiction counseling and crisis intervention protocols.
The private sector has embraced the initiative as part of corporate social responsibility. Martin Tabák, general director of Tipsport SK, emphasized the natural alignment between business interests and public welfare.
“We consider support for projects like the help line to be a natural part of our social responsibility, as it is in all our interests that professional and accessible help exists for players who need it, as well as for their families”
— Martin Tabák, General Director, Tipsport SK
During the period from February 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025, the gambling help line handled a total of 2,866 calls, with 1,124 evaluated through structured assessment forms. The majority of calls lasted up to five minutes, though crisis intervention calls occasionally extended beyond 20 minutes.
The caller demographics revealed distinct patterns:
The most common reasons people contacted the help line included:
Identifying Problem Gambling Warning Signs
Mental health professionals recommend watching for behavioral changes including secretive financial activities, mood swings related to wins/losses, borrowing money frequently, and neglecting work or family responsibilities. Early intervention within the first 2-3 years of problematic gambling typically results in 65% higher success rates compared to cases where treatment begins after 5+ years of addiction.
2,866
Total Calls Handled
1,124
Structured Assessments Completed
78.6%
Direct Gambler Callers
17.6%
Family Member Callers
78%
Male Callers
41%
RVO Information Requests
21%
Treatment Information Requests
12%
Crisis Intervention Calls
Vladimír Stanislav, director of OLÚP Predná Hora, emphasized the service's integration within a broader treatment ecosystem.
“The project is not just an isolated activity, but a functional part of a comprehensive system, from prevention through early intervention to professional treatment. The help line plays an important role in this chain in reducing social risks associated with gambling”
— Vladimír Stanislav, Director, OLÚP Predná Hora
Peter Knapík, deputy director for psychotherapeutic care at OLÚP Predná Hora, highlighted the service's core principles of anonymity, professional expertise, and individualized support based on client needs.
The free helpline number 0800 131 000 transitioned to continuous 24-hour, seven-day operation from February 1, 2026. International callers can access the service through the paid number +421 587 875 800.
Veronika Andrášiová, head of the help line, outlined expansion plans for the near future.
“In the foreseeable future, we plan to expand our services to include chat and email counseling, so that we can increase the detection of at-risk individuals and further destigmatize help”
— Veronika Andrášiová, Head of Help Line
Digital Counseling Trends
European gambling addiction services report that chat-based counseling attracts 40% more users under age 25, while email support sees higher engagement from individuals in rural areas with limited healthcare access. Multi-channel approaches typically increase overall service utilization by 150-200% within the first year of implementation.
The help line operates as a free and anonymous prevention pillar, financed through a combination of public resourceses, support from the Institute for the Regulation of Gambling, and contributions from responsible operators in the Slovak market. This multi-stakeholder funding approach ensures service continuity while distributing costs across public and private sectors.
Industry Contribution Requirements
EU gambling regulations increasingly mandate operator contributions to harm prevention services, with most jurisdictions requiring 0.1-0.5% of gross gaming revenue allocation. Slovakia's collaborative model could influence upcoming European Commission guidelines expected to standardize industry funding obligations across member states by 2027.
The Slovak model demonstrates how regulatory authorities can collaborate with specialized healthcare institutions and industry stakeholders to address gambling-related harm effectively. The comprehensive approach – from immediate crisis support to long-term treatment pathways – offers a template for other jurisdictions developing similar services. The emphasis on professional clinical oversight, rather than purely administrative support, may prove particularly valuable as the service expands to include digital communication channels and reaches a broader population of at-risk individuals.
According to URHH.
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Written by
Viktoriia KononovaContent Partnership Manager
Viktoriia has been with We–Right™ Factory since 2022, managing content partnerships across regulated iGaming markets. With a copywriting background, she understands both the creative and compliance sides of iGaming content production. On the blog, Viktoriia writes about responsible gambling content, regulatory alignment, and practical challenges of producing content for multiple jurisdictions.
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