With roulette wheels and slot machines overflowing from its countless gaming halls, it's no wonder that post-Soviet Russia is becoming fertile ground for compulsive gambling. Punters can even gamble on the metro, leaving virtually no sanctuary for the addicted gambler.
Nonetheless, with the surge in gambling problems, also comes new hope, in the form of Gamblers Anonymous. Gamblers Anonymous first came to Russia four years ago after two problem gamblers decided to bring the international movement to their homeland, giving fellow addicted roulette, slots and poker players a place to turn. The group started with just five members. Four years later, there are six Gamblers Anonymous groups meeting in Moscow alone, each with 10 to 15 participants. Aside from Moscow, Gamblers Anonymous meets in St. Petersburg, the Moscow region and in Kazan as well.
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