Title: Kallas: Electronic Gambling Games Lead to Suicide

The Minister of Youth and Sports in the caretaker government, George Kallas, warned about the dangers of gambling games, stating that they increase cases of addiction and suicide. He remarked in a statement that "while our Lebanese society suffers from economic and social hardships, compounded by the risks of the presidential vacancy and the subsequent political and social crises and youth unemployment, there has been a rise in cases of addiction and an increase in despair and suicide. In the Ministry of Youth and Sports, we are working to find solutions to the problems faced by the youth generation by establishing agreements with scouting associations, sports federations, and youth organizations to implement the provisions of the youth policy document approved by the government as a civilizational document that meets the youth and helps them overcome the crises they face." He added, "We were surprised by the discussion surrounding the attempt to legalize electronic casino games, which is a dangerous matter that will have expected repercussions on society and the youth generation." He continued: "We strongly reject the establishment of an online gambling platform without strict legislation and supervision from security agencies, and we urge the authorities to take necessary actions promptly to halt these dangerous and deadly proposals that will cause great harm to society, especially the youth, and increase the risks of bankruptcy, unemployment, addiction, and suicide."