Campaign targets online gambling addicts
An awareness campaign has been launched to help addicted online gamblers in Switzerland cope with their compulsive behaviour.
An independent foundationExternal link said it published a special digital programme, Gambling without AddictionExternal link, with the authorities in most cantons of German-speaking Switzerland.
It includes advice for gamblers, including setting spending limits or time-out periods.
Experts say half of the amount bet online with international providers comes from people with addiction problems.
A study published earlier this month found that nearly 3% of the Swiss population is addicted or at the risk of addiction, notably among online gamblers.
The most popular games were Swiss lotteries, followed by bingo or other private games, table games, vending machines and slot machines operated in Swiss casinos. A small group of respondents also said they were gambling with international online operators.
At the beginning of the year, a law came into force which restricts online gambling to a few authorised Swiss-based casinos.
However, nearly 20 operators are still accessible despite the ban, the Federal Casino Commission told the Swiss news agency, Keystone-SDA.
More
Do we need clinics for internet and sex addicts?
In compliance with the JTI standards
More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here. Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.